4 Most Common Food Truck Injuries and How to Prevent Them

Rachel Perkins — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 06:00:00 +0000

Working on a food truck can be fun. There is so much camaraderie between employees because of the tight quarters, and the fast-paced environment keeps everyone on their toes.

However, the things that make working on a food truck fun are the same things that can make the job dangerous. There are a number of common food truck injuries that can happen to workers such as burns, cuts, slips and falls, smoke inhalation and heat exhaustion.

Fortunately, there are ways to prevent most of the injuries and to keep everyone safe, happy and healthy. Read on to learn about potential dangers to food truck workers and how to keep them from causing harm.

1. Burns

One of the most common restaurant injuries is burns. Because of the limited space inside a food truck, and the large percentage of open cooking space, food truck workers are even more susceptible to them. Some burns are minor, but some can be very severe.

In order to prevent burn accidents in your food truck, there are steps you can take. First, avoid overcrowding on range tops and keep those pot handles turned in. Employees should not wear loose clothing or flammable fabrics.

2. Cuts

Cuts are also very common in the foodservice industry due to the heavy presence of sharp knives, and it is one more emergency that can happen on board. Other cutting equipment such as slicers and graters can also cause painful cuts and puncture wounds.

To keep food truck employees safe from cuts, be sure to provide proper storage spaces for all sharp objects so they are never left out on counters when not in use. Provide knives that are the appropriate size for the work. Keep them sharp so they are easy to use without extra pressure.

3. Slips and Falls

Slips and falls can happen anywhere but in a small, hard-to-maneuver space like a food truck, they are even more likely. These types of accidents can be compounded by someone putting their hand on a hot stove to catch themselves or hitting their head on the way down. It’s better to prevent these sorts of food truck injuries before they occur.

Spills should be cleaned up immediately no matter how long the line outside becomes. Safety is your number one priority. Non-slip matting on the floors will help with traction, but keeping the main aisle clear at all times will help workers to avoid falls even more.

4. Car Accidents

Most of the time your food truck will be parked, but don’t forget that it is also a motor vehicle and a large one at that. Blind spots can be a problem so installing large back-up mirrors can help you to prevent accidents. All passengers should be seated and should wear a seatbelt while the food truck is in motion.

Prevent Food Truck Injuries

There are many food truck injuries that can occur in a lively food truck atmosphere, but avoiding them is a goal all workers should have. The majority of food truck injuries are avoidable with proper vigilance and prevention, so take the steps necessary to keep you and other food truck staff members safe.

Want more food truck advice? Check out more blog posts here!

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What to Do When an Employee is Injured at Work: A Guide for Food Truck Owners

Rachel Perkins — Wed, 13 Nov 2019 14:52:01 +0000

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were over 2.5 million US worksite injuries in a single year in 2017. That translates into three employees injured at work per every 100 full-time workers in this country. As a food truck or food trailer employer, you too are legally required to compensate for medical expenses if an employee is injured while working in one of your vehicles.

In this post, you can learn about your responsibilities as an employer if there is an injury on your truck during work hours.

Workers’ Compensation Defined

Workers’ compensation guarantees that workers hurt on the job will receive payment to help cover their medical expenses. These laws exist in every US state so that employees won’t need to sue their company to help with medical reimbursements.

There are currently more than 140 million US workers covered by workers’ compensation insurance. The total cost for workers’ comp insurance to US businesses is well over $90 billion.

Workers’ compensation only concerns injuries that happen within the employer’s property. This property includes your food truck. In most states, under workers’ compensation statutes, businesses must secure a workers’ compensation insurance policy before they can start doing business.

These type of state regulations were first passed in 1902. By 1949, every US state had approved their own versions of workers’ compensation laws to protect their own employees.

Each state has their own version of workers’ compensation laws. That’s why you’ll find that these laws vary from state to state. There are also special compensation laws for employees in specific industries such as the railway industry or federal government workers.

Workers’ Comp Process Explained

Although all US states have their own individual workers’ compensation regulations, most workers’ comp claim procedures contain include some of these common steps:

Prevention

Prevention will be your best way to protect workers from injuries ever occurring in the first place. Create your own emergency response plan that spells out the importance of workplace safety and how to reduce risks.

These response plans can address various accident types that might occur and how to respond to them. You should also keep emergency contact information on file for each of your workers.

Coach your workers and supervisors on how to identify worksite hazards. Post 911 emergency contact information inside your vehicles for your employees to use if the need arises.

Act Immediately

Once you know there is an injured employee on your food truck, transfer the injured worker to a safe place. Direct your other workers to evacuate the dangerous area as well.

A fast response will reduce the severity of your worker’s injury. Your swift movement might also reduce how much the injury ends up costing your company.

Administer first aid to the injured worker. Always keep first aid supplies accessible on the vehicle at all times, and make sure your workers know where they are. If the injured food truck employee needs attention beyond any basic first aid, call an emergency medical crew to the site immediately.

Collect the Facts and Other Evidence

Evidence will play a central role in how the workers’ comp claim process evolves. Write down the important details about the injury incident that occurred. Take your own pictures of the equipment or area where the injury took place.

If there was a witness that saw the accident, collect their testimony as well. Collected updates periodically after the injury and keep them filed. These updates might be useful if your worker later notes delayed onset injuries.

All injuries should be documented even if your workers say that they feel fine. They may feel fine in the present moment, but later on, they might get medical attention if their condition changes. This documentation will also be important if they decide to file a workers’ compensation insurance claim at a later date.

Receive Your Employee’s Notification

If your employee was injured while you were away, ask them to submit a description of their sustained injury in writing. Some state workers’ comp statutes will have statutory deadlines for injured workers to inform their employer that they were injured.

When your employee notifies you about their accident, be sure the notification includes these following details:

Accident time, date, and location
How the accident took place
Any other individual or witness involved at the accident site
The extent of their injuries
Status of any medical care they’ve received to date for their injuries

They will also need to have these details if they eventually decide to file a workers’ compensation claim.

Submitting a Workers’ Comp Claim

You can work together with your injured employee to file their workers’ comp claim with your business’s insurance provider. Your insurance provider might ask their own workers’ compensation physician to exam the injured worker. Another workers’ comp procedure includes mailing copies of the claim to workers’ compensation board of the state where the accident occurred.

When your insurance company and the workers’ compensation board are done reviewing the claim, they’ll contact the injured worker. They let the worker know if their claim is approved and what amount of reimbursement they will receive.

It will be in your own best interest to keep an open channel of communication between you and your injured worker. You should also be sure to maintain contact with the injured worker’s physician, claims adjuster, and insurance agent. This constant contact can help speed up the claims process, and allow the injured worker to receive the funds they need to pay for their treatments.

What Happens Next: Possible Outcomes

A worker can reopen their workers’ comp claim after it has been finalized if they believe they have good reason to request more compensation. If additional compensation is denied and your worker decides to sue, be helpful and transmit any pertinent information you might have to their attorneys or claims adjuster.

Being Prepared for an Injured Food Truck Employee

The ideal way to protect your workers and your business is to draft written documentation in advance that spells out your workers’ comp claim protocols. This documentation might also provide helpful guidance to your workers on your return-to-work policy. Give this information to all existing and new workers.

Keep your vehicles stocked with current first aid supplies in case someone is injured at work. If a workers’ comp claim is filed, stay helpful and cooperative as you and your employee navigate the process. Keep your cool and you can help protect your company from additional liability.