Food service workers perform a variety of on-the-job tasks, ranging from the preparation of meals to the delivery of food items to restaurant and shop patrons. They are vital workers who keep America’s food supply running and who risk serious injury when they are not adequately protected from harm while on the job. In Pennsylvania and throughout the nation, food service workers face threats to their health and safety from many different hazards.
According to statistics published by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics, food service workers suffer many common workplace injuries such as cuts, bruises, sprains, and strains. These injuries can come from accidents or the failure of the workers’ employers to provide them with the proper safety equipment or training to do their work.
Food service workers, however, also suffer a significant number of thermal burns each year. A thermal burn happens when the skin touches a hot surface or object. In the context of food service and preparation, thermal burns may be sustained on cooktops, ovens, or grills. They can occur when victims are exposed to steam and when they are splashed with scalding hot fluids. Food service workers are exposed to many forms of thermal heat which can, in turn, cause them to suffer serious burn injuries.
Like workers in other industries, food service workers may have options for seeking financial relief when they are harmed in workplace incidents. A serious injury could prevent a worker from performing their job tasks and earning their income, which may threaten their livelihood. Workers of all backgrounds who have sustained harm through workplace accidents can investigate their rights for compensation and relief with the help of knowledgeable workers’ compensation attorneys. This post is informational in content and should not be read as legal advice.
