Working in a commercial kitchen is not without risk. They are busy, stressful environments surrounded by heat, steam, open flames, sharp knives, heavy equipment and cleaning chemicals.

Whilst the vast majority of employers install the right health and safety measures, accidents can still happen when precautions are not followed.

Common kitchen accident claims

The most common types of kitchen accidents that you can make a claim for include:

Burns, scars and lacerations: Deep fat fryers, open flamed grills and hobs always pose a risk of burns if not used correctly. Boiling water, cooking oils and steam can also lead to burns, scalding and scarring.

Burn injuries can lead to serious long-term implications including:

• Scarring.
• Psychological damage.
• Possible need for amputation.
• Infection – such as sepsis.
• Muscle.

Lacerations can also happen as a result of defective equipment, lack of safety equipment and poor training. The effects of lacerations can lead to serious muscle and nerve damage, along with the chance of wounds becoming infected.

Slips, trips and falls: Potential spillages of hot oils and liquids, lots of people and equipment can lead to slips, trips and falls in a busy kitchen.

Manual handling injuries: Heavy lifting of produce and equipment within the confines of a tight working environment can lead to manual handling injuries.

How employers can help prevent kitchen accidents

Employers have a legal duty to protect their staff from harm in the workplace. In order to mitigate the level of risk as far as reasonably possible employers are expected to:

• Conduct regular risk assessments.
• Supply staff with the right PPE.
• Put in place measures to keep the kitchen clean, tidy and free from obstacles and spillages as much as possible.
• Regularly inspect equipment to ensure it is in good working order.

When building a case against your employer your work accident solicitor will need to collect evidence to prove that your employer was in breach of the above.

Evidence that can used to prove this includes:

• Witness reports from the scene of the accident.
• The report in the company accident book.
• Photos and video evidence from the scene of the accident.
• Medical records and the findings from an independent medical assessment.
• Reports from independent health and safety experts.