Restaurant work is one of your best job options in Virginia if English is not your first language. However, it can also be a recipe for disaster.
Take a bunch of people who are exhausted from working long shifts; throw in a collection of sharp implements and hot foodstuffs; combine them in a cramped space and garnish with a generous amount of stress and pressure. What could go wrong?
These are some of the accidents that could happen when you work in a restaurant:
- Cuts, punctures and scrapes: Kitchens are full of sharp knives and other cutting implements; proper training in the use and storage of knives and other sharp instruments can reduce the risk of cuts, punctures or scrapes.
- Slips and falls: Things get spilled all the time in restaurant kitchens; making sure spills are cleaned up as soon as they happen can reduce the risk of a slip or fall. Suitable footwear and even floor surfaces also help keep you safe.
- Burns and scalds: Heat is an essential part of any kitchen; you can easily get burned or scalded. Protective clothing and footwear can reduce the risk of serious injury.
- Strains: A lot of lifting goes on in a kitchen; training in how to lift safely, as well as access to lifting equipment, can reduce the risk of strains.
If you have an accident while working in a restaurant, your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance should cover you. A legal team who speaks your language can help you file your claim correctly.
