Working in hospitality, you spend time with customers and do your best to make your hotel a place where they want to be. You and your coworkers do your best to be safe, but there are times when injuries can happen.
Some of the most common injuries in the hospitality industry include:
- Slips, trips and falls
- Lifting or handling injuries
- Being hit by an object
- Falling from a height
- Injuries from acts of violence
Slips, trips and falls make up around 29% of all non-fatal accidents in the hospitality industry. That doesn’t mean they’re the only kind, though. Between 2016 and 2017, for example, approximately 434,000 injuries happened in the industry that led to workers missing up to seven days of work. Another 175,000 led to absences of seven days or longer. There have been falls from second-story (or higher) windows, as well. Many hotels have locks on windows to try to prevent those kinds of falls today — but they can still occur.
Handling injuries can happen when assisting clients with their bags or moving furniture to clean. Similarly, it’s possible to be hit by falling objects while cleaning or trying to get items down from a height. Using the right ladders, carts and equipment can help prevent these types of injuries.
Finally, remember that violent guests or colleagues can cause injuries as well. Injuries from acts of violence may also be covered by workers’ compensation.
If you’re hurt on the job, you may be able to seek workers’ compensation to help you get the financial support you need as you recover. If you’re having trouble with your claim, don’t hesitate to learn more about your legal options.