Picking up a summer job is a financial necessity for many students. It can help them cover living costs and supplies once the term begins again. Yet some of those students find that their future becomes more uncertain due to an injury sustained while working.
Flipping burgers on a grill is one sort of job that is often available for the few months students are available. Here are some of the risks specific to this or any other kitchen-based work.
Burns and scalds
Almost every kitchen worker will pick up a selection of small scars to show for their time on the job. It is easy to touch a plate you did not realize was hot, or lean an arm or other body part against a hot part of the grill. Yet, some burns are incredibly serious, causing permanent disfigurement and decreased sensitivity. Hot liquids, too, such as stock or oil, can also cause really serious injuries if spilled on a person. Writing those essays might become a lot harder in such a case.
Cuts
Getting the odd nick from a knife is another rite of passage for kitchen staff, but once again, some cuts can be far more serious, severing a nerve or worse. It’s not just knives that can cause damage. Someone who is new on the job might be tasked with washing up a machine such as a liquidizer or meat grinder without getting proper training on how to ensure it is safely switched off first.
Slip and falls
If people do not mop up spillages promptly, falls become more likely, and a fall on a hard corner of the grill or table could cause a serious wound.
Even though you are only working for the summer, you should still have the right to claim against the employer’s workers’ compensation insurance if injured.
