Occupational Safety in the Food Industry

An employee has the right to demand a copy of his occupational safety rights from his food industry employer.

Employees working in the food industry can suffer from injuries, illnesses and deaths like any other workplace. Therefore food industry employees receive special instructions and training on how to prevent these injuries and follow occupational safety regulations. The Occupational Health and Safety Administration makes random safety inspections to food establishments to ensure the safety needs of the employees, customers and visitors are being met.

Types of Injury Causes

There are many reasons an employee can become injured while working in the food industry. An employee can suffer back injuries due to heavy lifting and stacking of food containers or delivering food in heavy crates and packages. There is equipment that can provide occupational safety to food industry employees who suffer injuries from lifting. Vacuum lifters and conveyors can be used in the food industry to prevent injuries caused by lifting, stacking, delivering and other manual handling injuries.

Safety Rights

The safety regulations and rights of an employee who works in the food industry must be visibly posted for the employee to read. The posting details any safety precautions or hazards an employee should avoid, and knowledge of what to do if he does happen to encounter the hazard. The rights to what an employee does have, as far as compromising his safety, should be listed on the posting as well. An employee has the right to demand a copy of his occupational safety rights from his food industry employer.

Workplace Cleanliness

The cleanliness of a food establishment and environment can cause occupational safety issues. When food, beverages or utensils are dropped on the floor and not picked or cleaned up, it can lead to employee injuries. An employee can slip or fall on the utensils or wet and dirty floor. The falls can cause severe injuries, including fractured or broken body parts, such as fractured skulls and broken limbs.

Food Industry Training Misconceptions

There is a misconception with training in the food industry. An employee is not just trained on how to use equipment and machinery, but how to properly store food items, utensils and equipment. Occupational safety training teaches employees in the food industry workplace to store food in secure places, store knives when not in use and to store heavy items on lower workplace shelves.

Safety Significance of Staffing

The amount of staff an employer in the food industry has a great deal of significance when it comes to occupational safety. An employer should know how many employees are working during one shift to ensure a sufficient amount of aisle and workspace is available for each employee. Proper staffing can prevent numerous hazards and safety violations in the food workplace.

References

• U.S. Food & Safety
• Occupational Safety