Food Service Company ID’s Top 4 Biggest Worker Safety Risks In Food Service Industry

Louisiana is known for its vibrant culinary scene. From small mom-and-pop cafes serving tables up to six or eight, to the larger and more well-known spots such outfitted for tourists, parties, and events, the kitchens of New Orleans and throughout Louisiana are bustling and constantly pumping out the local flare and flavors of creole and Cajun cuisine. There is no doubt that the food industry is an important part of Louisiana’s rich culture and is integral to the many workers in the industry that rely on food service for their livelihood. However, as crucial as the food industry is as the heart and soul of Louisiana, its workers must face an industry full of hazards on the job, some apparent and some that may not be as obvious. To help raise awareness about the top workplace hazards in the food industry, senior food service company Culinary Services Group reported on the top 4 biggest workplace safety risks in the food industry. It is important for food industry workers and employers in Louisiana to understand these risks and hazards that workers must face every day on the job.

Top Food Industry Workplace Safety Risk #1: Cuts and Lacerations

Perhaps one of the more obvious workplace hazards in the food industry for workers is cuts and lacerations. In the kitchen workplace, there is constant cutting, from paring knives to industrial slicers that are typically used by workers and by hand. The Culinary Services Group report notes that 22% of all restaurant workplace injuries involve cuts and lacerations, making this category of injuries the most common in the restaurant industry.

Top Food Industry Workplace Safety Risk #2: Slips and Falls

Slips and falls may be a less apparent workplace hazard for restaurant workers, however, these injuries contribute to 20% of all restaurant workplace accidents, according to the Culinary Services Group report. The report notes that 100% of all falls are actually preventable, and suggests that best practices when using ladders include making sure step ladders have locking mechanisms and that ladders are placed on solid ground. Slip-resistant shoes are also advisable when in the kitchen and even in the dining room, where floors may be slippery.

Top Food Industry Workplace Safety Risk #3: Sprains and Strains

Strains and sprains make up 15% of restaurant workplace injuries, according to the Culinary Services Group report. These injuries typically occur when workers bend down low to grab something or lift something that is heavy without good and proper form. The report notes that one way to prevent sprain and strain injuries is to make sure that workers are trained on proper form when lifting heavy items.

Top Food Industry Workplace Safety Risk #4: Burns and Scalds

There is no doubt that heat is almost always involved in the kitchen workplace. Accordingly, burns and scalds are common workplace injuries in kitchens. According to the Culinary Services Group report, burns and scalds make up 13% of all restaurant workplace injuries.

If you have been injured on the job in Louisiana, it is important to speak with an experienced Louisiana workers’ compensation lawyer. Contact the law offices of Lunsford Baskin & Priebe to speak to a lawyer about your workplace injury case today for free and to see if they can help.