In a typical Food and Beverage Retailers facility, safety incidents don’t just slow down operations—they can have serious consequences for employees. The retail trade sector reports hundreds of thousands of non-fatal injuries each year, with food and beverage establishments being a major contributor. These injuries are costly for employers, creating substantial direct and indirect expenses, not counting the human toll.

Machinery mishaps, violent incidents, and heat-related illnesses are all too common—many of them are often avoidable. The problem isn’t just awareness; it’s the difficulty of spotting risks in a timely manner, enforcing protocols consistently, and responding before minor hazards become major incidents.

That’s where a comprehensive safety approach—combining strong protocols with modern technology—can significantly improve outcomes. AI-powered video intelligence gives safety leaders the visibility and timely insight they need to support their teams and keep everyone safe.

The cost of safety negligence in food and beverage retailers

Safety lapses in Food and Beverage Retailers don’t just hurt people—they also impact the bottom line. OSHA penalties for serious incidents can be steep, with maximum fines reaching $68,625, an average of $9,173, and a median of $5,839 per incident. Investing in forward-looking safety—supported by video intelligence—means fewer fines, fewer injuries, and a stronger workplace culture.

The top 4 avoidable injuries in food and beverage retailers

Let’s get specific. Here are the four injury types that commonly affect food and beverage retailers, and how video intelligence can help reduce incidents.

1. Machinery-Related Lacerations and Amputations

Scenario:
A deli worker cleans a slicer after a busy shift. The guard is removed “just for a second.” The blade catches a finger—resulting in a severe injury.

Root Causes & Impact:
Machinery (slicers, grinders, pallet jacks) causes 33% of sector injuries, with amputations accounting for 17% and lacerations for 10% (Source: OSHA Injury Summary, 2025). Most amputations involve improper cleaning or maintenance—often when safety guards are bypassed or lockout/tagout isn’t followed. The impact? Permanent disability, missed work, and major regulatory penalties.

How video intelligence supports mitigation:
Video intelligence helps confirm that proper procedures—like using machine guards and following lockout/tagout protocols—are followed. Should a mishap occur, footage reveals exactly what went wrong, providing clear evidence for retraining and process improvements.

2. Struck-By and Caught-Between Incidents (Vehicles, Carts, Loads)

Scenario:
A team member is guiding a forklift operator in the back lot. A miscommunication, a sudden turn, and a pallet shifts—pinning the employee against a wall.

Root Causes & Impact:
Struck-by and caught-between accidents account for 11% of reported injuries (Source: OSHA Injury Summary, 2025). These events often happen in loading docks and parking areas, where poor visibility, rushed schedules, or missing barriers create hazards. Injuries can be severe—fractures, head trauma, or even fatalities.

How video intelligence makes a difference:
Smart cameras monitor blind spots, pedestrian walkways, and vehicle paths. AI can detect unsafe interactions (like pedestrians in forklift zones), issuing real-time alerts to supervisors and logging the event for follow-up.

3. Burns (Thermal, Chemical, Electrical)

Scenario:
A cook reaches for a fryer basket. Hot oil splashes, causing second-degree burns to the forearm. In another case, an employee mixes cleaning chemicals without proper PPE, resulting in chemical burns.

Root Causes & Impact:
Burns make up 5% of OSHA injuries in this sector, stemming from hot surfaces, grease, and chemicals (Source: OSHA Injury Summary, 2025). Inadequate PPE, crowded kitchens, and missed safety steps during cleaning are frequent factors (Source: National Safety Council). Burn injuries often mean hospitalization and long-term recovery.

How video intelligence aids safety:
Video AI can monitor PPE compliance in hot zones and flag when staff enter hazardous areas without proper gear. It also helps reconstruct events for root-cause analysis.

4. Violence and Assaults (Including Robbery, Customer Disputes)

Scenario:
A cashier confronts an agitated customer over a disputed transaction. The situation escalates—ending in a physical assault and hospitalization.

Root Causes & Impact:
Violence accounts for 3% of OSHA-reported incidents—but with high severity (Source: OSHA Injury Summary, 2025). Customer disputes, robberies, and even coworker altercations can spiral quickly in retail settings. The toll includes physical injury, trauma, and lost workdays.

How video intelligence contributes:
Video monitoring deters would-be offenders, but modern systems do more. AI can detect crowding, loitering, or running, which can indicate escalating situations and alert managers in real time. Video records support investigations and training on de-escalation.

Hurdles and impact of injuries

Technology amplifies the efforts of safety teams, making it easier to spot, mitigate, and learn from incidents.

How technology strengthens injury mitigation

Video intelligence supports smarter, safer operations by helping to address key safety hurdles.

Machinery-Related Lacerations and Amputations

Safety hurdle:
Shortcuts during machine cleaning or operation lead to severe injuries, especially when safety steps are skipped.

Tech Solution: Video analytics confirm that machine guards are in place and lockout/tagout is performed before maintenance. If an employee attempts to clean or unjam a slicer without proper safety steps, the system flags the violation. Incident footage speeds up post-incident analysis, so retraining happens fast.

Struck-By and Caught-Between Incidents

Safety obstacle:
Forklifts, pallet jacks, and carts share space with people in busy back-of-house areas, increasing collision risks.

Tech Solution: AI cameras track vehicle and pedestrian movement, flagging unsafe interactions. Timely alerts warn supervisors if a forklift enters a pedestrian zone or if a person enters a restricted area. Data on safety events helps adjust traffic patterns and signage where needed.

Burns

Safety limitation:
Heat, hot surfaces, and chemical hazards are routine in kitchens; PPE is often skipped for speed.

Tech Solution: Video AI monitors for PPE compliance to help ensure specified gear is worn in designated zones. Incident reviews help fine-tune training and equipment placement.

Violence and Assaults

Safety roadblock:
Retail settings are vulnerable to unpredictable violent events, from robberies to customer outbursts.

Tech Solution: AI-powered monitoring detects unusual activity like crowding, loitering, or restricted area breaches. Real-time alerts notify managers or security, allowing them to intervene before situations escalate. Video evidence supports law enforcement and continuous improvement of staff training.

Spot AI and similar platforms are designed to be simple to deploy—leveraging existing camera infrastructure and integrating with your safety workflows.

Practical implementation of safety technology

Implementing safety technology in Food and Beverage Retailers doesn’t have to mean a complete overhaul of your existing systems or overwhelming your team with complexity.

Integration with existing safety programs:
Video AI solutions like Spot AI work with your current camera network, adding a layer of real-time analytics and searchable incident review. They support OSHA recordkeeping by making it easy to find and export video evidence for any incident.

Tailoring to your needs:
Choose solutions that address your pain points—whether it’s machine safety, or violence mitigation. Look for platforms that are easy to manage, provide actionable insights (not just endless footage), and have robust privacy controls.

Support for safety culture:
Technology should empower your team—not replace them. The best systems surface hazards, automate documentation, and let your people focus on taking action. They also make training more effective, using real-world footage to reinforce learning.

Ready to get started?
When evaluating solutions, ask vendors how their system fits your unique floor plan, peak hours, and risk profile. Prioritize ease of use, rapid alerting, and the ability to search for specific events.

Building a safer workplace with technology

Creating a safer workplace is a business and moral imperative that goes beyond regulatory requirements. Your frontline teams are central to this effort, and technology like Spot AI is designed to support them by helping identify hazards before they lead to incidents.

See how Spot AI’s video AI platform can help your team reduce the likelihood of injuries and improve safety. Request a demo to experience the technology in action.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common injuries in food and beverage retailers

The top injuries are machinery-related lacerations/amputations; struck-by and caught-between incidents; burns; and workplace violence. Reducing these injuries starts with strong protocols—like regular floor inspections, machine guarding, and PPE use—combined with timely event detection and compliance monitoring using video AI.

How video intelligence helps reduce workplace injuries

AI-powered video systems detect events (like people in restricted areas), monitor for unsafe behaviors, and provide timely alerts. They also deliver searchable footage for incident investigation and training, making safety protocols stick.

Integrating video AI with existing cameras and safety programs

Most modern platforms, including Spot AI, can be deployed using your current camera network. Setup is fast, and the system overlays analytics and search features without disrupting existing workflows.

Compliance considerations for food and beverage retailers

Facilities must meet OSHA standards for hazard-free workplaces, proper floor maintenance, machine guarding, recordkeeping, and heat stress management. Video AI can help document compliance, support audits, and demonstrate due diligence.

What is the best video analytics for workplace safety

The best system is one tailored to your specific risks. Look for key capabilities: real-time alerts for hazards like people in no-go zones, the ability to work with your existing cameras, and fast, searchable video to resolve incidents in minutes. The right platform should also be easy for your team to use across all locations, turning data into actionable safety improvements.

About the author

Joshua Foster is an IT Systems Engineer at Spot AI, where he focuses on designing and securing scalable enterprise networks, managing cloud-integrated infrastructure, and automating system workflows to enhance operational efficiency. He is passionate about cross-functional collaboration and takes pride in delivering robust technical solutions that empower both the Spot AI team and its customers.