Most people don’t immediately think of the service sector when discussing high-risk professions. However, thousands of service sector employees get hurt at work every year. Many others acquire job-related medical conditions.
Some of the workplace safety hazards that service professionals face are industry-specific. The risks that come from working in a restaurant are vastly different than the safety concerns faced by hotel personnel. However, there are certain types of injuries that are more common than others in the service sector. The following are three of the biggest safety concerns for service workers in the United States.
Violence in the workplace
Service sector employees have to deal with customers all day. People can be very unpredictable, especially when they are unhappy about something. Customers might throw a drink in a bartender’s face, causing lacerations to their eyes or allergic reactions. A frustrated patron trying to return an item without a receipt might punch the clerk who refuses to process the return. There is also the constant risk of criminal activity including robbery. Violence in the workplace can lead to serious injuries and an extended leave of absence for the affected employees.
Slip-and-fall injuries
Service workers often have to move quite quickly to do their jobs well. Wait staff may go back and forth across a restaurant dozens of times per shift. They could slip in a spilled drink or trip over a misplaced purse. Retail workers could also encounter hazards that lead to them slipping and falling as they assist customers or restock shelves. Slip-and-falls can cause broken bones or even brain injuries that leave employees unable to work.
Repetitive stress injuries
Many service workers spend their entire shifts performing the same functions over and over again. They may ring up thousands of items at a cash register or may carry dozens of heavy trays out to customer tables. Repetitive job functions can cause cumulative trauma to the human body. Conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome may require medical treatment and can leave people unable to perform their jobs.
Service sector employees may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits when they end up hurt because of their employment. Recognizing common job hazards can help employees stay safer and identify when they might be eligible for benefits if harm does occur.