Injuries and Accidents in a Bakery

When Can You Make a Personal Injury Claim?

We all know that warm smell of baking bread and that first mouthful of a soft jam doughnut, but injuries and accidents in a bakery can happen. Bakers have their own unique set of hazards daily. These include working with hot ovens, dough cutters and sharp slicers and may lead to serious injuries.

Bakery owners are required to follow legal health and safety measures to keep their employees safe. However, if you have been injured while working in a bakery through no fault of your own, you may be entitled to file a personal injury claim.

Jefferies Claims works with lawyers who operate on a ‘No Win, No Fee’ basis and can advise on whether you have a potential claim.

Common Injuries Sustained by Bakery Employees

Working in a fast-paced, physically demanding environment like a bakery means that employees are exposed to various risks on a day-to-day basis. Here are some of the most common types of injuries:

Burn Injuries

Burns are perhaps the top risk for employees. They frequently work near hot ovens, trays, and baking equipment. Additionally, scalds from hot liquids like boiling water or syrups may also occur.

Cuts and Lacerations

Bakers regularly use sharp knives, dough cutters, and slicing machines. Improper handling, lack of training, or defective equipment can easily lead to serious cuts or lacerations.

Slips, Trips, and Falls

Kitchen ingredients such as spilled flour, dough, water, or oil can make bakery floors extremely slippery. If proper cleaning procedures aren’t followed or warning signs aren’t displayed, slips and falls are a common cause of injury in bakeries. Uneven flooring or cluttered workspaces may also contribute to the trip hazards.

Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSIs)

Tasks like kneading dough, lifting trays, or decorating cakes involve repetitive motions that can lead to repetitive strain injuries over a prolonged period. These conditions, including carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis, may cause ongoing pain. Also they may limit an employee’s ability to work.

Manual Handling Injuries

Bakery staff often need to lift heavy bags of flour, trays, or crates. Without proper manual handling training or equipment, employees risk sprains, strains, or back injuries.

Respiratory Problems

Inhalation of airborne flour dust and other particles can lead to respiratory problems such as baker’s asthma, a well-documented occupational disease among bakery workers.

Eye Injuries

Exposure to dust, hot oil splashes, or cleaning chemicals can cause serious eye injuries if protective gear isn’t provided or worn.

When Can You Claim For Compensation?

Employers have a legal duty of care to provide a safe working environment for their employees. This includes conducting regular risk assessments, providing adequate training, supplying protective equipment, and ensuring all machinery is safe and properly maintained.

If your employer fails to meet these obligations and you suffer an injury as a result, you may be entitled to compensation.

To make a successful personal injury claim for a bakery accident, you will need to show that there was a breach in the duty of care. Examples may include unsafe working conditions, lack of training or faulty equipment, among others.

It is important that you are able to directly link the harm you have suffered to your employer’s negligence. Typically, you have three years from the date of the accident, or the date you became aware of the injury, to start a claim.

How Much Compensation Could You Receive?

The amount of compensation you may receive depends on several factors. These include the severity of your injury, how it has affected your life and ability to work. Any financial losses you’ve incurred may also be considered. Compensation generally covers:

• Pain and suffering
• Medical expenses
• Loss of earnings
• Travel expenses related to medical care
• Future care and rehabilitation costs

‘No Win, No Fee’ Claims

Bakery work may seem to be a low-risk profession, but in fact employees are exposed to various hazards every day. From burns and cuts to respiratory illnesses and manual handling injuries, there is the potential for accidents.

At Jefferies Claims, we will guide you through the claims process. We partner with experienced lawyers who will assess all aspects of your case and who work on a ‘No Win, No Fee’ basis.

Contact Jefferies Claims today at 0333 358 3034 or complete our online contact form to arrange an initial no-obligation telephone consultation.