Common Injuries to Restaurant and Retail Workers
On Behalf of Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa | June 9, 2023 | Workers' Compensation
The restaurant and retail industries provide a broad range of jobs to people of all ages and abilities. However, as in all industries, food service and retail workers may get injured on the job. This is true whether you are the head chef or dishwasher in a popular restaurant, a cook in a local diner, a server in a café, a salesperson in a shopping mall, or a cashier in a shoe store. That’s why you must be aware of the common injuries that retail and restaurant workers can suffer at work.
Common Injuries Restaurant Workers Face
- Burns – Burns are the most common restaurant worker injuries. In the restaurant or food service setting, burns often occur when workers come in contact with boiling water, hot surfaces, and hot liquids like oil and grease.
- Cuts and Puncture Wounds – Knives, meat slicers, peelers, and broken glass, among others, can easily cut skin and seriously injure you.
- Slip and Fall Injuries – Whether involving wet surfaces near freezers, sinks, or newly cleaned areas, or greasy floors, a slip and fall accident can lead to various injuries, such as fractured bones, sprains, back injuries, and traumatic brain injuries.
- Ergonomic Injuries – These are repetitive stress injuries that develop due to repetitive motions and include nerve damage, carpal tunnel syndrome, back pain, back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, etc.
Common Injuries Retail Workers Face
- Broken Bones, Head Injuries, Bruising – These injuries typically result from falling, tripping, or slipping on floors and being struck by moving or falling items on shelves, especially in warehouses.
- Musculoskeletal Injuries – These are caused by lifting bulky or heavy items or lifting things improperly. They are among the most common injuries in grocery stores and service stations.
- Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSIs) – Tasks like scanning items at checkout stresses the same body parts again and again and may cause RSIs. These injuries cause inflammation, stiffness, numbness, and pain in the hands, wrists, and arms, resulting in carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis.
- Back and Leg Injuries – Cashiers and sales people standing for hours on end every single day can develop prolonged and significant muscle fatigue, leading to backaches, leg cramps, and sciatica, among others.
- Cuts and Scrapes – Retail workers frequently utilize sharp tools like box cutters, knives, and scissors for cutting. Accidents involving these sharp tools can lead to minor cuts or severe lacerations that will require emergency care or surgery.
Get Legal Advice From a Skilled Port St. Lucie Workers’ Compensation Attorney Today
Unfortunately, many workers in the restaurant and retail industries are scared to report their work-related injuries or take the necessary time off to recover from their injuries because they fear they will lose their jobs. But it is urgent that you report your work injury to your employer and file a workers’ comp claim after getting injured on the job.
If you need more details about filing a workers’ compensation claim or need help to appeal a denied claim, reach out to the Port St. Lucie workers’ compensation attorney at Rosenthal, Levy, Simon & Sosa right away. Call our office at 772-878-3880 or contact us online to set up your free case evaluation with our Port St. Lucie workers’ compensation attorney.
Don’t wait - get an experienced attorney on your side to help you with everything that comes next so you can get the compensation you deserve or the advice you need when you need it most.