When you work a hospitality job in New Jersey, you may spend a good deal of time on your feet. The fast-paced nature of the industry also means injuries are a common occurrence, and many injuries suffered by bar, restaurant and hotel workers are the result of employees slipping, tripping and falling.
According to Modern Restaurant Management, slip-and-fall accidents are now the leading cause of nonfatal injuries in the hospitality industry. Slips, trips and falls now cause 29% of all injuries suffered by service-industry employees.
Why slip-and-fall injuries are so common in hospitality
Many restaurants and bars have low lighting, which has the capacity to contribute to falls. The potential for spilled drinks, grease spills and wet, slippery floors is also high, and any of these elements may also raise your risk of falling. When restaurants and bar areas have clutter piling up, this, too, creates an avoidable fall risk. Falls may also become more likely during especially busy shifts when workers are rushing back and forth trying to cater to guest needs.
How to help prevent slip-and-fall injuries in hospitality
Your service-sector employer has a duty to keep your work environment safe and free from hazards to the fullest degree possible. In a bar or restaurant setting, this might involve putting up signs to indicate when floors are wet and making sure lighting is adequate in the kitchen and dining areas. Employers also have a duty to rectify any fall hazards, such as raised floorboards or uneven steps, promptly.
If you suffer a fall while working in a bar or restaurant, you may be able to get workers’ compensation insurance to help cover the expenses and hardships that result from it.