If you work in a commercial kitchen environment then you may be well aware of the dangers. There are dangers in the kitchen at home but in a commercial environment the risks are likely to be greater.
First of all, the risks in a commercial kitchen are likely to be greater due to the equipment and the scale or size of it. Knives for example are likely to be bigger and sharper in a commercial environment; ovens are likely to be bigger and hotter, there are likely to be numerous people in the kitchen meaning that people may bang into each other. At busy times people are likely to be rushing and this is another factor. These are just some of the reasons why a commercial kitchen may be more dangerous than a residential kitchen.
Knives are one of the most obvious dangers that could cause injury. However heat is another danger from ovens, deep fat fryers, boiling water etc. Burn injuries are common in the kitchen as are cuts and slices of the skin. Kitchen equipment can cause severe injuries. Only recently I was working on a case where the Claimant was burnt from boiling water from a large industrial kettle. Everything in a commercial kitchen is bigger and more powerful and the risk of serious injury is increased.
The Health and Safety Executive is responsible for enforcing commercial catering health and safety regulations which can cover a variety of businesses including hotels, restaurants, cafes, fast food outlets, pubs, contract caterers and other premises or caterers where food and drink is prepared and served to the public. The Health and Safety Executive is responsible for enforcing commercial catering health and safety regulations in order to minimise the risks of injury. Hygiene is an important part of kitchen workplace safety but this is under the responsibility of the Environmental Health Department.
Other accidents in a kitchen can include trips and slips. These accidents are often better known in respect of supermarkets or out and about in a public place. However there are many things that cause tripping and slipping accidents in a commercial kitchen. Spillages will undoubtedly happen as people are busy and as people are trying to multi-task during busy periods. A spillage should be cleaned up immediately and warning signs should be erected as soon as possible. The catering industry is perhaps more dangerous than we think. There are obvious dangers in a kitchen environment, just as there are on a building or construction site.
If you have sustained injury in a commercial kitchen environment then you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation. Do not hesitate to call us today for free no obligation advice.
Here at The Injury Lawyers we deal with all types of personal injury claims.
