Service Industry Professionals and Workers’ Compensation
The Service Industry encompasses a wide range of workers including cooks, servers, bakers, busboys, kitchen staff, janitors, and cashiers who take care of us every day. While many people are aware of the dangers construction workers or assembly-line workers face, they are not aware that service employees work under extremely hazardous conditions and face serious injuries every daily.
Injuries for Service Workers
Service Industry workers spend their days around hot stoves, sharp knives and heavy equipment making them very susceptible to work injuries. These work injuries can include:
- Lacerations and punctures. Caused by accidents from sharp knives, slicers, and broken glass.
- Burns. Boiling water, hot stoves and ovens, open fryers, and plate warmers can cause serious burns to cooks and servers.
- Sprains and strains. Service work can be grueling, physical labor requiring heavy lifting, long hours standing, and so on putting all workers at risk for repetitive-use injuries, back injuries from improper lifting, shoulder injuries from overhead lifting, and injuries from slipping and/or falling on slippery surfaces throughout the work areas including the refrigerator, freezer, and even the bathroom.
- Eye injuries. Caused by Splashes from grease in the foodservice industry or sanitizing chemicals frequently used by janitors and cleaning staff, which can result in eye injuries requiring immediate treatment to prevent potential vision loss.
What to do when you are injured at work.
Immediately report your injury or work-related illness to your employer or supervisor. Tell them you were hurt on the job as well as the date and location of the injury. Be specific as to what body part (or parts) of your body was injured.
Seek medical attention. You may need to see your employer’s doctor, which depends on if your employer maintains a panel physician list. Ask if your employer has such a list and, if they do, ask that it is provided to you immediately. If they do not have a list, you are free to treat with whichever doctor you choose.
Know your rights. Contact the Philadelphia workers’ compensation lawyers, at Pearson Koutcher Law and speak with a lawyer with expertise in workplace injury law. Our attorneys have over 100 years of combined experience helping injured workers throughout Pennsylvania. We will help you fully understand your rights as an injured employee and assist you in obtaining the full Workers’ Compensation benefits you deserve under the law.
Workers Compensation Benefits for Service Workers:
Under the Pennsylvania workers’ compensation laws, Service Industry professionals who are hurt at work may be entitled to the benefits listed below. Call Pearson Koutcher Law and let us get you what you deserve:
- Medical Benefits
- Wage-Loss Benefits
- Specific Loss Benefits
- Death Benefits
Contact the Philadelphia workers’ compensation lawyers at Pearson Koutcher Law and let us fight for the benefits to which you are entitled.
