Hospitality work is a useful way for college students to earn some money on the side. Many younger people also choose to pursue a full-time career in this industry. The work is hard and the shifts are long, but with tips and benefits, restaurant work can be a fruitful vocation.
However, working in the restaurant business does not come without certain risks, and accidents can happen. Outlined below are some of the more common injuries sustained in restaurants.
Injuries from falls
Restaurants are fast-paced environments, with tables being turned over quickly and a constant flow of diners. This means that employees are almost always on the move. If you are positioned in the front of house, then you will be greeting customers, showing them to their tables and ensuring that they receive their food in a timely manner.
Although your movements are out of sight if you work in the kitchen, the pace is just as frantic. You have to collect deliveries, replenish stock and get food up to the pass for serving staff. It only takes one misplaced obstacle for a devastating fall to occur in either environment. If you’re lucky, you may be able to dust yourself off and continue. However, if you fall and hit your head, or fracture a bone, you could be looking at a lengthy recovery.
Burn injuries
Kitchens are hot, that goes without saying. Whether you’re using a coal fire, gas stove or electrical equipment, there is a potential for you to burn yourself. Cooking oils can achieve a maximum temperature that is much higher than water, and if there is a spillage, you could suffer nasty burn injuries.
Front-of-house staff are not immune from burn injuries either. Most of the food making its way to customers will be piping hot, and if this comes into contact with your skin, the damage can be severe.
As a restaurant worker, you have a legal right to work in a safe environment. If you have been injured on the job, it may benefit you to look further into your legal options.
