Service-industry work involves many different hazards. The busy nature and rapid pace of work in bars, restaurants, hotels and resorts make injuries common among hospitality employees. Research shows that almost a third of all hospitality worker injuries suffered in California and the rest of the United States result from falls. This highlights a need for more preventative efforts among employers nationwide.
Per Modern Restaurant Management, hospitality workers reported about 434,000 work-related injuries in 2016 and 2017. Almost 30% of them were the result of workers slipping, tripping or falling, making slips, trips and falls the leading cause of nonfatal injury in hospitality.
What causes slip, trip and fall injuries in hospitality
Many aspects of bar, restaurant and hotel work make the risk of falling high. Spilled liquids, wet floors and the frenetic pace of service work all compound falling risks. Having many different workers using the same space also raises the risk of an employee fall. While every slip-and-fall injury may not be preventable, many of them could have been, had someone addressed the condition that caused the fall more quickly.
What happens to workers who suffer slip, trip and fall injuries
Some fall-related injuries are minor in nature. Others have the potential to lead to serious, long-term complications. Studies show that most hospitality workers who suffer injuries in falls miss seven days of work while recovering. Yet, some workers suffer serious back, neck or head injuries in falls that make it difficult or impossible for them to return to the workplace.
Workers who suffer on-the-job injuries that result from an employer’s failure to address a dangerous condition may be eligible for workers’ compensation insurance.