Working in the food service industry is notoriously hard. You have to deal with rude and entitled people, be on your feet for long periods of time, and often work an inconsistent schedule with long hours.

As if it weren’t difficult enough already, food service workers are also frequently vulnerable to serious injuries simply due to the nature of their job. These are a few of the most common injuries that food service workers get on the job.

Cuts
Working in food service usually means using knives and other sharp equipment to prepare food. Improper use of this dangerous equipment, inadequate personal protective equipment (PPE) or a combination of both can lead to serious cuts or even losing a finger.

Burns
Most food establishments have equipment that uses heat to cook food like ovens, stoves, grills, and fryers. Critical burns can happen in the blink of an eye if you aren’t careful and or don’t use proper PPE.

Slip and fall
The floors in the back of food places where people work are usually slippery for one reason or another. There could be water on the floor by the dish area, oil spills by fryers or just a generally slick build-up of things being tracked around by workers. If you aren’t wearing slip-resistant shoes, you could easily take a tumble and hurt yourself.

Back injuries
Finally, food service workers may sustain injuries to their back while on the job. You may occasionally have to do some heavy lifting of boxes or equipment which, if done improperly, can hurt your back. When lifting something heavy, be sure to start lifting it from a squatting position so you can use your knees to do most of the work rather than your back. Also, know your limits. If something is too heavy to lift by yourself, grab a coworker to help.

Staying safe and work is a combination of common sense, being aware and using proper PPE. According to state law, it is your employer’s responsibility to provide the necessary PPE for you to do your job safely. If you were injured at work you may be entitled to workers’ compensation regardless of fault. Reach out to an experienced attorney for help.