Some of the most preventable workplace injuries are hurting B.C.’s restaurant industry financially, according to WorkSafeBC.
Injuries from slips, trips and falls at restaurants, bars and pubs between 2017 and 2021 cost the industry more than $20 million in claims, despite many of them being preventable, according to a recent press release from WorkSafeBC.
As a result, WorkSafeBC says employers and workers at restaurants, bars and pubs to take measures to prevent slips, trips and falls. They also recommend owners, managers and supervisors take an active role in identifying and fixing hazards.
“We’re urging employers in restaurants, bars and pubs to take steps to identify slip and trip hazards in the workplace and implement controls to reduce the risk of injury,” said Barry Nakahara, WorkSafeBC’s senior manager of prevention field services.
An estimated 11,000 British Columbians are injured by slips, trips and falls in the workplace, according to WorkSafeBC, which says owners, managers and supervisors need to ensure that workers are engaged and are part of the solutions.
“Efforts to prevent injuries from slips, trips and falls are most likely to succeed when workers are actively involved,” said Nakahara. “Front-line staff are well positioned to point out slip and trip hazards and to help employers quickly deal with them.”
According to WorkSafeBC, over the last five years, slips, trips and falls accounted for approximately 25 per cent of all injury claims in restaurants, bars and pubs in British Columbia.
Injuries from slips, trips and falls can include sprains, bruises, concussions, fractures, burns and cuts, resulting in pain and suffering, disability, and stress.
“Although they occur frequently, slips, trips and falls are some of the most preventable types of workplace incidents,” said Nakahara.
Across all industries they are the costliest workplace incidents, resulting in more than 260,000 lost workdays and more than $206 million in workers’ compensation payments, according to WorkSafeBC.
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