Burned While Working in the Kitchen

Can I claim compensation for being burned while working in the kitchen? I work in a pub that serves lunches and was burned because the gas burner was faulty.

Even though being burned while working in the kitchen may seem like a good reason for claiming for compensation, you should be aware that you are not automatically entitled to make a claim. Whenever any individual takes a job which requires working in a kitchen they naturally accept the threat of being burnt. Although employers are required to provide their staff with a safe working environment, your claim for burn injury compensation will depend on several different factors.

You may have a viable case if it can be demonstrate that the circumstances that led to you being burned while working in the kitchen were caused by a breach in your employer’s duty of care to routinely inspect the equipment you were provided with or was aware of the fault with the gas burner but neglected to do anything about it. However, if the gas burner had only just developed the fault and nobody had reported it to your employer to have it removed from service, it is doubtful that a compensation claim for your burn injury could be pursued.

You should consult with your fellow staff members to establish whether they knew of the faulty gas burner or if the malfunctioning equipment had been brought to your employer’s attention. You should also have your injury recorded in the pub’s “Accident Report Book” in order to support your claim. An important procedure to take is to have your injuries examined by a medical professional; this should be done immediately after the burns were sustained.

It would be in your best interests to consult with an experienced personal injury solicitor about your potential compensation claim for being burned while working in the kitchen at the first practical moment. In the initial consultation that most solicitors offer free of charge, he or she could evaluate your claim to determine its validity. If they agree that it can be pursued, your solicitor can provide valuable assistance with the collection of any relevant documents and the completion of any standard procedures.