Florida has a booming hospitality and tourism industry thanks to its beautiful sceneries and great weather all year round. With the increased activity and the fast-paced nature of the work in the Florida hospitality industry, accidents are not unlikely. According to BLS, this sector accounts for roughly 5% of all Florida fatal occupational injuries yearly. If you have suffered work injuries resulting from your employer’s negligence in the hospitality industry, a skilled workers comp lawyer in Florida can help you get fair compensation.
Common work injuries in the hospitality and tourism industry
Although all workers in the hospitality industry can potentially suffer work-related accidents, housekeepers, kitchen staff, waiters, and room attendants are more likely to suffer work-related injuries compared to others due to the nature of their work. Below are some of the most common injuries in the hospitality and tourism industry.
- Musculoskeletal injuries: The work of many hotel workers involves lifting and bending, which can lead to musculoskeletal injuries such as back pain, neck pain, or limb pain.
- Skin reactions: Housekeepers and cleaners in the hospitality industry come into contact with chemicals regularly when handling cleaning agents. Sometimes, these chemicals could trigger allergic reactions that could develop into severe complications, affecting the workers’ ability to perform job duties.
- Cuts, lacerations, and punctures: These injuries are common with kitchen staff who come into contact with sharp objects such as knives and other electronic kitchen appliances. Additionally, tripping and falling on sharp objects could also result in cuts, lacerations, and punctures.
- Burns and scalds: These work injuries are also prevalent among the kitchen staff who have to work with fire at all times. Besides kitchen staff, waiters are also at the risk of scalds as they serve hot drinks and food to customers.
Tips for preventing hospitality work injuries
Below are some tips that can help establishments and workers prevent workplace injuries in the hospitality industry.
- Teamwork : Rather than leave the task of heavy lifting to an individual, hospitality workers should be encouraged to work as a team when lifting heavy items like mattresses and crates to avoid injuries resulting from overexertion. Additionally, establishments could also invest in lifting tools and machinery that can help to reduce the stress of doing heavy lifting.
- Invest in better tools for the job: Employers could provide employees with ergonomically designed equipment such as carts and vacuum cleaners with long handles. This will ensure that workers avoid stretching and bending in awkward positions that could lead to musculoskeletal injuries. Employers could also invest in battery-powered cleaning equipment such as spray bottles to reduce the chances of repetitive motion injuries common with using manual spray bottles.
- Using proper safety equipment: Employers should ensure that employees are equipped with the proper safety equipment to avoid accidents. These safety types of equipment include proper eyewear, gloves, and respirators (to protect workers from harmful chemicals in the cleaning agents), and non-slip footwear.
- Take preventative measures: Hospitality employees should have proper training on body mechanics, like encouraging staff to engage in stretch exercises before starting a shift. Doing this can help in warming up and reduce the chances of musculoskeletal work injuries. It’s also essential to ensure that workers take adequate breaks throughout the day to reduce fatigue.
What to do if you suffer a work injury as a hospitality worker?
If you have suffered a work-related injury in the hospitality industry, you may be entitled to compensation. The following are some of the things you can do after a workplace accident to protect your right to fair compensation.
- Seek immediate medical attention: Seeking medical attention should always come first. When seeking medical help, it’s always best to confirm with your employer if they have a designated doctor with their worker’s comp insurance provider. Besides upholding your health, seeking medical attention provides you with medical documentation, which is critical at establishing the extent of your injuries when making a claim.
- Report the accident to the manager: In Florida, an injured employee is required to report an accident to the manager within 30 days from the date of the accident or within thirty days after your doctor discovers you have a work-related injury.
- Contact a Florida work injury lawyer: The process of workers compensation can get complicated, especially where severe injuries are involved. Therefore, it’s in your best interest to work with a skilled workers comp lawyer in Florida to increase your chances of getting fair compensation.
Suffered on-the-job injuries from hospitality work? Contact Sternberg | Forsythe, P.A. today
If you have suffered an on-the job injury while working in the hospitality industry in Florida, reach out to the experienced work injury lawyers at Sternberg | Forsythe, P.A., to file a claim and begin the compensation process. Our attorneys have decades of combined experience in fighting for the rights of injured Florida workers. With our team by your side, you can be sure of the best possible outcome for your work injury claim. Contact us online or give us a call today to schedule your free consultation.
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