Learn about Colorado workers compensation for restaurants including costs and coverage. Workers comp helps CO food service businesses & their employees by covering legal fees for defense of work-related injuries, employee medical expenses and lost wages.
If you work in food service, you know there are plenty of accidents or mishaps that happen regularly. Anything from a wet floor to hot grease can pose a danger to employees.
Workers compensation exposures come from slips, falls, cuts, puncture wounds, burns, foreign objects in the eye, hearing impairment from noise, heavy and awkward lifting, and interactions with customers. Employees must be trained on the carrying of heavy dishes between the kitchen and the serving areas. Food and beverage handling can result in passing bacteria or viruses, resulting in illness. While smoking is prohibited in bars in many states, others still permit this. In those states, workers can incur occupational disease from the ongoing inhalation of secondhand smoke.
As with all retail businesses, hold-ups are possible, so employees should be trained to respond in a prescribed manner. Cleaning workers can develop respiratory ailments or contact dermatitis from working with chemicals. The employees in many restaurants tend to be minimum wage and turnover may be high. Company incentives to encourage long-term employment are positive signs of management control.
If you are an owner of a CO food business or restaurant, you need to protect yourself from potential liability for things that happen to your employees while they are on the job. Accidents can be crippling to your business if you are made to pay out large sums of money each time.
The best solution is to get Colorado workers compensation for restaurants so that you can run your business with peace of mind.
Workers compensation insurance is a plan that shields you and your business from claims by employees that have been hurt on the job. If someone that is working for you suffers an injury (or even dies), this policy takes care of the costs associated with that so that you do not have to pay out-of-pocket. It covers lost wages and any medical costs of employees that have been injured on the job. In extreme cases, it can also cover death benefits should a family member chose to sue you.
Without Colorado workers compensation for restaurants coverage, you have to pay all medical fees and legal services upfront. And the failure to do so can lead to large fines and even imprisonment in some states.
There are many things that can happen in a CO restaurant, but the most common things you can see covered are events such as slips and falls from wet floors, cuts from knives while cutting food, burns from any surface or liquid, and muscle (or bone) injury from carrying heavy objects.
However, external events can also be covered. Often times the restaurant being robbed can cause damage or injury to employees. Robberies and assaults are usually covered if they happen while you are on the job. Car accidents, if they happen when going to and from a work-related location, can also be covered by workers comp.
Colorado requires workers compensation coverage if you have any non-owner or partner emloyees. See CO workers comp class codes for more information.
Part-time contractors may even need to be covered as well. When talking to your insurance company, make sure to ask about CO specific laws, as they’ll surely have information on what you need to do to comply.
The CO workers comp policy you get should have high enough limits to make sure you don’t have to pay directly for your employees injuries. As a restaurant owner you may want to include yourself under your workers comp coverage to give yourself protection if because of a work related injury become sick, hurt or otherwise unable to work. If this is something you are not able to afford, typically owners and partners can always opt out with certain plans. Talk to your insurance agent to make sure you are getting the most relevant coverage for your business.
Having Colorado workers compensation coverage is necessary for your food service business though it’s not the only thing you can do to reduce cost. Before your insurance kicks in, you can take steps to stop accidents from happening:
Proper training and education can help cut off many accidents before they occur.
9079(1) – RESTAURANTS OR TAVERNS – all employees – including musicians and entertainers: This classification applies to the preparation and serving of hot and cold food items for consumption on or away from the premises or the preparation, pouring and serving of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises. This classification also applies to mobile food vending operations involving the use of food trucks, trailers, carts or temporary booths wherein hot food is prepared for sale to customers. Mobile food vending operations that do not include the preparation of hot food shall be classified as 8017(1), Stores – retail, 8078(1), Sandwich Shops, 8078(2), Beverage Preparation Shops, or 8078(3), Ice Cream or Frozen Yogurt Shops, depending on the products sold. Hot foods items are foods that are cooked to order and served hot to customers or foods that are cooked in advance and served from a warming tray or similar device. This classification includes doughnut shops that prepare and serve doughnuts and beverages for consumption on the premises.
8017(1) – STORES – retail – N.O.C.: This classification applies to retail stores engaged in the sale of items not more specifically described by another store classification, including but not limited to appliances, artwork, baked goods, cellular telephones, cosmetics or beauty supplies, prescription and non-prescription pharmaceuticals, party supplies, craft supplies, disposable medical supplies, mattresses and box springs, domestic pets, firearms, games or gaming devices, home electronics, musical instruments, sporting goods, toys, vitamins or food supplements, cut Christmas trees and wheelchairs. This classification also applies to self-serve laundromats, dry cleaning or laundry drop-off and pick-up facilities (no cleaning on the premises), mail service stores and gaming arcades. The preparation or serving of hot foods shall be separately classified as 9079(1), Restaurants or Taverns.
8078(1) – SANDWICH SHOPS – not restaurants – N.O.C.: This classification contemplates the preparation, serving and sale of cold food items such as sandwiches, salads, and side dishes that are prepared for consumption by the walk-in trade. Cold food items are foods that are prepared and served cold or cooked in advance of orders and allowed to cool. This classification contemplates incidental warming of cold food items using microwave ovens, toaster ovens or heat lamps and the preparation of sandwiches with meats that are kept warm in a steam table. Classification 8078(1) also applies to stores that prepare and sell fresh, unbaked pizzas. This classification shall apply to each separate location at which the sale of prepared cold food items for consumption on or away from the premises equals or exceeds 50% of the gross receipts. Sandwich shops that pour and serve alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises or prepare and serve hot food for consumption on or away from the premises shall be assigned to Classification 9079(1), Restaurants or Taverns.
8078(2) – BEVERAGE PREPARATION SHOPS – not bars or taverns: This classification contemplates the preparation, serving and sale of cold food items such as sandwiches, salads, and side dishes that are prepared for consumption by the walk-in trade. Cold food items are foods that are prepared and served cold or cooked in advance of orders and allowed to cool. This classification contemplates incidental warming of cold food items using microwave ovens, toaster ovens or heat lamps and the preparation of sandwiches with meats that are kept warm in a steam table. Classification 8078(1) also applies to stores that prepare and sell fresh, unbaked pizzas. This classification shall apply to each separate location at which the sale of prepared cold food items for consumption on or away from the premises equals or exceeds 50% of the gross receipts. Sandwich shops that pour and serve alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises or prepare and serve hot food for consumption on or away from the premises shall be assigned to Classification 9079(1), Restaurants or Taverns.
8078(3) – ICE CREAM OR FROZEN YOGURT SHOPS: This classification contemplates firms that sell individual servings of ice cream and frozen yogurt for consumption by the walk-in trade on or away from the premises. This classification includes the incidental sale of hand packed ice cream and prepackaged ice cream confections sold as such. This classification shall apply to each separate location at which the sale of individual servings of ice cream or frozen yogurt for consumption on or away from the premises equals or exceeds 50% of the gross receipts. Ice cream or frozen yogurt shops that pour and serve alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises or prepare and serve hot food for consumption on or away from the premises shall be assigned to Classification 9079(1), Restaurants or Taverns.
9079(2) – CONCESSIONAIRES – dispensing food and beverage items at ball parks, race tracks, theaters, concert venues and amusement and recreational facilities: This classification applies to employers that operate under concessionary agreements to sell prepared or prepackaged hot and cold food items, including but not limited to hot dogs, hamburgers, pretzels, french fries, popcorn, nachos, ice cream, candy, funnel cakes, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages at ball parks, race tracks, theaters, concert venues and amusement and recreational facilities. Employers that operate under concessionary agreements to sell items other than food and beverage products shall be classified depending on the products sold. This classification does not apply to food and beverage vendors selling at locations other than those specified. Mobile food vendors engaged in the retail sale of packaged and cold foods and beverages from food trucks, trailers, carts or temporary booths, including the incidental storage of such merchandise, shall be classified as 8017(1), Stores – retail, 8078(1), Sandwich Shops, 8078(2), Beverage Preparation Shops, or 8078(3), Ice Cream or Frozen Yogurt Shops, depending on the products sold. The operation of mobile food trucks, trailers, carts or temporary booths wherein hot food is prepared for sale to customers shall be classified as 9079(1), Restaurants or Taverns.
We hope this article on Colorado workers compensation for restaurants was informative. Accidents happen every day in restaurants. Working with hot liquids, oil and gas, and lifting heavy boxes can put many employees at risk for injury, which you may have to compensate them for.
Additionally, the time they do not spend at work can cost you (and them) money. See ideas on finding the cheapest workers compensation insurance in Colorado. The best way to protect yourself from having to pay out massive fees each time there is an accident is to make sure you get a workers comp policy for food service in force before anything happens.
Request a Colorado Workers Compensation Insurance quote in Alamosa, Arvada, Aurora, Boulder, Brighton, Broomfield, Castle Pines North, Castle Rock, Canon City, Centennial, Colorado Springs, Commerce City, Craig, Delta, Denver, Durango, Englewood, Erie, Evans, Federal Heights, Firestone, Fort Collins, Fort Morgan, Fountain, Frederick, Fruita, Glenwood Springs, Golden, Grand Junction, Greeley, Greenwood Village, Johnstown, Lafayette, Lakewood, Littleton, Lone Tree, Longmont, Louisville, Loveland, Montrose, Northglenn, Parker, Pueblo, Rifle, Steamboat Springs, Sterling, Superior, Thornton, Trinidad, Westminster, Wheat Ridge, Windsor and all other cities in CO.
When it comes to insurance regulations in Colorado, there are a few things that you want to be aware of. Let's take a look at the laws and rules surrounding insurance in CO.
The most common type of business insurance is liability insurance. Commercial liability insurance is required to cover things like property damage, bodily injury, personal injury, advertising injury and legal defense and judgments. Colorado is a fault state, and businesses are not required to carry liability insurance in order to operate. There is a cap on damages that are not economic set at 468 010 USD with a higher limit set at 936 030 USD for non-economic damages in which it can be proven that the original damage amount is too low. However, these cases are rare.
Punitive damages in exemplary damages are almost unheard of in Colorado, but there is no limit on economic damages. The statute of limitations to file against types of damages is two years - or three years if the damages were sustained in a vehicle. Most experts recommend the businesses carry anywhere from 500 000 USD to 1 000 000 USD in general liability coverage.
The only other requirements for businesses that you need to be aware of is the requirement for any business that hires hourly or wage employees to carry Worker's Compensation insurance and for those same companies to have minimum insurance coverage on their vehicles which for a vehicle used for business purposes means that you will have to purchase a commercial auto insurance policy.
The most common type of personal insurance is the one that everyone is required to have - auto insurance. The law requires that you have at least 25 000 USD per person and at least 50 000 USD per accident in liability insurance; as well as an additional 15 000 USD for property damage. These are the main regulations covering auto insurance in Colorado and they are very similar to the regulations found in most of the other states.
The only additional regulation that you need to be aware of when it comes to personal insurance has to do with life insurance. If you have life insurance, your insurance provider is required to give you a one month grace period before they can cancel your policy due to nonpayment. This protects consumers against having policies canceled due to having a late payment. This is the only regulation you should know when it comes to life insurance.
Without California workers compensation for restaurants coverage, you have to pay all medical fees and legal services upfront. And the failure to do so can lead to large fines and even imprisonment in some states.
There are many things that can happen in a CA restaurant, but the most common things you can see covered are events such as slips and falls from wet floors, cuts from knives while cutting food, burns from any surface or liquid, and muscle (or bone) injury from carrying heavy objects.
However, external events can also be covered. Often times the restaurant being robbed can cause damage or injury to employees. Robberies and assaults are usually covered if they happen while you are on the job. Car accidents, if they happen when going to and from a work-related location, can also be covered by workers comp.
Colorado requires workers compensation coverage if you have any non-owner or partner emloyees. See CO workers comp class codes for more information.
Part-time contractors may even need to be covered as well. When talking to your insurance company, make sure to ask about CA specific laws, as they’ll surely have information on what you need to do to comply.
The CA workers comp policy you get should have high enough limits to make sure you don’t have to pay directly for your employees injuries. As a restaurant owner you may want to include yourself under your workers comp coverage to give yourself protection if because of a work related injury become sick, hurt or otherwise unable to work. If this is something you are not able to afford, typically owners and partners can always opt out with certain plans. Talk to your insurance agent to make sure you are getting the most relevant coverage for your business.
Having California workers compensation coverage is necessary for your food service business though it’s not the only thing you can do to reduce cost. Before your insurance kicks in, you can take steps to stop accidents from happening:
Proper training and education can help cut off many accidents before they occur.
9079(1) – RESTAURANTS OR TAVERNS – all employees – including musicians and entertainers: This classification applies to the preparation and serving of hot and cold food items for consumption on or away from the premises or the preparation, pouring and serving of alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises. This classification also applies to mobile food vending operations involving the use of food trucks, trailers, carts or temporary booths wherein hot food is prepared for sale to customers. Mobile food vending operations that do not include the preparation of hot food shall be classified as 8017(1), Stores – retail, 8078(1), Sandwich Shops, 8078(2), Beverage Preparation Shops, or 8078(3), Ice Cream or Frozen Yogurt Shops, depending on the products sold. Hot foods items are foods that are cooked to order and served hot to customers or foods that are cooked in advance and served from a warming tray or similar device. This classification includes doughnut shops that prepare and serve doughnuts and beverages for consumption on the premises.
8017(1) – STORES – retail – N.O.C.: This classification applies to retail stores engaged in the sale of items not more specifically described by another store classification, including but not limited to appliances, artwork, baked goods, cellular telephones, cosmetics or beauty supplies, prescription and non-prescription pharmaceuticals, party supplies, craft supplies, disposable medical supplies, mattresses and box springs, domestic pets, firearms, games or gaming devices, home electronics, musical instruments, sporting goods, toys, vitamins or food supplements, cut Christmas trees and wheelchairs. This classification also applies to self-serve laundromats, dry cleaning or laundry drop-off and pick-up facilities (no cleaning on the premises), mail service stores and gaming arcades. The preparation or serving of hot foods shall be separately classified as 9079(1), Restaurants or Taverns.
8078(1) – SANDWICH SHOPS – not restaurants – N.O.C.: This classification contemplates the preparation, serving and sale of cold food items such as sandwiches, salads, and side dishes that are prepared for consumption by the walk-in trade. Cold food items are foods that are prepared and served cold or cooked in advance of orders and allowed to cool. This classification contemplates incidental warming of cold food items using microwave ovens, toaster ovens or heat lamps and the preparation of sandwiches with meats that are kept warm in a steam table. Classification 8078(1) also applies to stores that prepare and sell fresh, unbaked pizzas. This classification shall apply to each separate location at which the sale of prepared cold food items for consumption on or away from the premises equals or exceeds 50% of the gross receipts. Sandwich shops that pour and serve alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises or prepare and serve hot food for consumption on or away from the premises shall be assigned to Classification 9079(1), Restaurants or Taverns.
8078(2) – BEVERAGE PREPARATION SHOPS – not bars or taverns: This classification contemplates the preparation, serving and sale of cold food items such as sandwiches, salads, and side dishes that are prepared for consumption by the walk-in trade. Cold food items are foods that are prepared and served cold or cooked in advance of orders and allowed to cool. This classification contemplates incidental warming of cold food items using microwave ovens, toaster ovens or heat lamps and the preparation of sandwiches with meats that are kept warm in a steam table. Classification 8078(1) also applies to stores that prepare and sell fresh, unbaked pizzas. This classification shall apply to each separate location at which the sale of prepared cold food items for consumption on or away from the premises equals or exceeds 50% of the gross receipts. Sandwich shops that pour and serve alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises or prepare and serve hot food for consumption on or away from the premises shall be assigned to Classification 9079(1), Restaurants or Taverns.
8078(3) – ICE CREAM OR FROZEN YOGURT SHOPS: This classification contemplates firms that sell individual servings of ice cream and frozen yogurt for consumption by the walk-in trade on or away from the premises. This classification includes the incidental sale of hand packed ice cream and prepackaged ice cream confections sold as such. This classification shall apply to each separate location at which the sale of individual servings of ice cream or frozen yogurt for consumption on or away from the premises equals or exceeds 50% of the gross receipts. Ice cream or frozen yogurt shops that pour and serve alcoholic beverages for consumption on the premises or prepare and serve hot food for consumption on or away from the premises shall be assigned to Classification 9079(1), Restaurants or Taverns.
9079(2) – CONCESSIONAIRES – dispensing food and beverage items at ball parks, race tracks, theaters, concert venues and amusement and recreational facilities: This classification applies to employers that operate under concessionary agreements to sell prepared or prepackaged hot and cold food items, including but not limited to hot dogs, hamburgers, pretzels, french fries, popcorn, nachos, ice cream, candy, funnel cakes, soft drinks and alcoholic beverages at ball parks, race tracks, theaters, concert venues and amusement and recreational facilities. Employers that operate under concessionary agreements to sell items other than food and beverage products shall be classified depending on the products sold. This classification does not apply to food and beverage vendors selling at locations other than those specified. Mobile food vendors engaged in the retail sale of packaged and cold foods and beverages from food trucks, trailers, carts or temporary booths, including the incidental storage of such merchandise, shall be classified as 8017(1), Stores – retail, 8078(1), Sandwich Shops, 8078(2), Beverage Preparation Shops, or 8078(3), Ice Cream or Frozen Yogurt Shops, depending on the products sold. The operation of mobile food trucks, trailers, carts or temporary booths wherein hot food is prepared for sale to customers shall be classified as 9079(1), Restaurants or Taverns.
We hope this article on California workers compensation for restaurants was informative. Accidents happen every day in restaurants. Working with hot liquids, oil and gas, and lifting heavy boxes can put many employees at risk for injury, which you may have to compensate them for.
Additionally, the time they do not spend at work can cost you (and them) money. See ideas on finding the cheapest workers compensation insurance in California. The best way to protect yourself from having to pay out massive fees each time there is an accident is to make sure you get a workers comp policy for food service in force before anything happens.
Get a downloadable version of this article:Â California Workers Compensation For Restaurants
Request a California Workers Compensation Insurance quote in Alamosa, Arvada, Aurora, Boulder, Brighton, Broomfield, Castle Pines North, Castle Rock, Canon City, Centennial, Colorado Springs, Commerce City, Craig, Delta, Denver, Durango, Englewood, Erie, Evans, Federal Heights, Firestone, Fort Collins, Fort Morgan, Fountain, Frederick, Fruita, Glenwood Springs, Golden, Grand Junction, Greeley, Greenwood Village, Johnstown, Lafayette, Lakewood, Littleton, Lone Tree, Longmont, Louisville, Loveland, Montrose, Northglenn, Parker, Pueblo, Rifle, Steamboat Springs, Sterling, Superior, Thornton, Trinidad, Westminster, Wheat Ridge, Windsor and all other cities in CO.
When it comes to insurance regulations in Colorado, there are a few things that you want to be aware of. Let's take a look at the laws and rules surrounding insurance in CO.
The most common type of business insurance is liability insurance. Commercial liability insurance is required to cover things like property damage, bodily injury, personal injury, advertising injury and legal defense and judgments. Colorado is a fault state, and businesses are not required to carry liability insurance in order to operate. There is a cap on damages that are not economic set at 468 010 USD with a higher limit set at 936 030 USD for non-economic damages in which it can be proven that the original damage amount is too low. However, these cases are rare.
Punitive damages in exemplary damages are almost unheard of in Colorado, but there is no limit on economic damages. The statute of limitations to file against types of damages is two years - or three years if the damages were sustained in a vehicle. Most experts recommend the businesses carry anywhere from 500 000 USD to 1 000 000 USD in general liability coverage.
The only other requirements for businesses that you need to be aware of is the requirement for any business that hires hourly or wage employees to carry Worker's Compensation insurance and for those same companies to have minimum insurance coverage on their vehicles which for a vehicle used for business purposes means that you will have to purchase a commercial auto insurance policy.
The most common type of personal insurance is the one that everyone is required to have - auto insurance. The law requires that you have at least 25 000 USD per person and at least 50 000 USD per accident in liability insurance; as well as an additional 15 000 USD for property damage. These are the main regulations covering auto insurance in Colorado and they are very similar to the regulations found in most of the other states.
The only additional regulation that you need to be aware of when it comes to personal insurance has to do with life insurance. If you have life insurance, your insurance provider is required to give you a one month grace period before they can cancel your policy due to nonpayment. This protects consumers against having policies canceled due to having a late payment. This is the only regulation you should know when it comes to life insurance.
If you are looking for state specific Workers Compensation For Restaurants quotes, costs and information:
