Even if your restaurant has a safety program in place, and all of your employees are super careful, accidents happen in the kitchen from time to time. However, as a restaurant owner, the last thing you want is to be taken to court or to have to pay out workers’ compensation through your insurance company to an injured worker because you failed to act properly. Below you’ll find a few tips for what to do when an employee receives a work-related injury in your kitchen.
Prevention is key.
The best way to avoid an injured worker is to have all safety rules in place, posted where everyone can see them, and to have safety meetings at least once a month. As a restaurant owner, you already know that prevention is key. You need to ensure that all of your restaurant’s equipment is up to code and safe for your employees to work with.
You can do this by purchasing your restaurant equipment such as refrigerators, prep tables, pots, pans, and other essentials from a reputable store. For example, if you own a restaurant in Seattle, you should get your restaurant equipment from a Seattle restaurant store with good reviews and durable equipment and still get it for a low price.
Care for the employee.
While this may seem like a no-brainer, the first thing you want to do when there is a work-related injury in your restaurant is to take care of the employee. As soon as the accident occurs, examine the employee and see if there’s a need for medical assistance. If an ambulance is needed, contact 911 immediately, and wait for help. Many worker’s compensation insurance companies also have a 24/7 hotline if you want to go ahead and report the work injury right away so that the employee may file as soon as possible if the need arises.
Report the incident.
Even if the injury is minor, you need to report the incident to your insurance company as soon as you have the employee taken care of. There could be medical bills that need to be paid because you don’t know how the injury will affect them the next morning or even two days after the work injury.
If you are an employee who has been injured in a workplace accident and has problems getting the justice you deserve, then the workers’ compensation law is on your side. Contact the chicago workers compensation attorneys for an appointment and a free consultation to see if they can help you with your workers’ compensation claim and get the workers’ compensation benefits you are owed.
Complete the paperwork.
As with anything else in the work field, you’re going to have a ton of paperwork to fill out to send to the insurance company, so make sure you document all of the evidence, eyewitnesses, and anything else that will help the insurance company decide the claim the employee will make for workers compensation benefits.
Work with the employee to develop a return-to-work plan.
Sometimes, even with minor injuries, the employee has to be out of work for a day or two. It’s important to work with the employee to determine when the best time for them to return to work is and what they’re going to be able to do when that time comes. If they have gone to a doctor, they should determine when they can come back to work.
These are just a few tips on what to do if an employee is injured in your restaurant. Take care of the employee first, then worry about reporting the incident to the insurance company afterward.
