Kitchen Accident Claims

Burns and scalding injuries are traumatic, often having long-term effects on your life beyond the immediate pain of the incident itself. The complications and potentially life-changing consequences of a serious burn include:

• Amputation
• Blood poisoning (sepsis)
• Infection
• Muscle/tissue damage
• Psychological problems
• Scarring
• Toxic shock syndrome

If you have suffered from a workplace burn, you might be able to make a compensation claim that takes into account the full extent and impact of your injuries. You may need a skin graft operation to replace the skin that’s been affected by the burn—our team can support you if you need to access specialist treatment for this.

Lacerations are a common danger in kitchens and commercial food preparation workplaces where equipment and sharp knives or edges are present, although employees can be at risk in less obvious circumstances.

Health and safety law means employers should do as much as reasonably possible to protect workers from harm. Unfortunately, accidents happen, but if negligence is involved, you might be able to make a compensation claim.

Lacerations are sometimes caused by:

• Falling or misuse of knives and other sharp objects
• Mixers, blenders, scissors and graters
• Defective kitchen equipment
• Inadequate training
• Inappropriate tools
• Missing safety guards on commercial kitchen equipment
• A lack of safety equipment, for example, gloves, boots and protective aprons

If your injury was a result of employer negligence, we will thoroughly investigate the circumstances around it, working out what could or should have been done to prevent it. The effects of a laceration can be severe, including:

• Muscle damage, leading to restricted limb movement
• Nerve damage and numbness
• Wound infection

We will make sure that your compensation takes into account any complications caused by the injury, helping you access the specialist support you need.

When it comes to avoiding injuries in a commercial kitchen, employers should:

• Carry out a risk assessment
• Supply the right clothing and/or protective equipment for their employees, if appropriate
• Make sure that the working environment is suitably maintained
• Clean the workplace properly

Falls, burns and other kitchen accidents can have serious consequences, so it’s vital that the right measures are put in place to reduce the risk of them happening.

Our specialist workplace accident solicitors have years of experience representing clients who have been injured as a result of employer negligence. Contact us today to find out how we can help you.

Kitchens can be dangerous work environments. As part of the job, you would expect to cut yourself on knives or splash hot oil when using cooking equipment. Most trained chefs learn to deal with these incidents and know the appropriate safety precautions to use.

As an employee, though, you have a duty of care to be responsible for your own safety in a professional kitchen.

You should make sure you attend relevant training, familiarise yourself with the company’s health and safety policies, carry out proper risk assessments where asked and familiarise yourself with kitchen policies.

Your employer should provide you with, or reimburse you for, relevant personal protective equipment (PPE)—you need to make sure that this is worn at all relevant times. You should also report anything in the kitchen that contravenes health and safety of yourself or others.

If you have knowingly undertaken a risk in the commercial kitchen contrary to instruction, risk assessment or training, you are less likely to make a successful claim. However, there may be circumstances where your employer is primarily at fault—your actions may have played a part in the outcome, but you are not entirely to blame.

If you win such a case, your compensation amount will be reduced by the amount you are deemed to have contributed to the accident. Don’t worry, we can discuss this with you in an initial consultation call.