If you own or run a restaurant, it’s your duty to ensure the business is a smooth success, with the safety of your employers being a priority. Reducing slips and falls is one sure-fire step you can take, as these are among the most common causes of catering industry accidents.
According to HSL UK "slips, trips and falls are the leading cause of accidents in the workplace and resulted in over 10,000 major injuries last year. These injuries can be devastating for the individual involved and generate a huge financial burden on industry from injury claims and working days lost. Our understanding of flooring, footwear and human behavior means that we can reduce slip and trip accidents considerably."
Many contributing factors can lead to slips, trips and falls in a restaurant. It can affect waiters, waitresses and bartenders or those who work tirelessly behind the scenes, like chefs and dishwashers.
Accidents can be caused by a variety of factors such as a slippery spot on the floor, uneven surfaces, food spillage, loose floors, clutter, impractical shoes or electrical cords so please browse through our tips to see how you can minimise the risk. This will make your restaurant a safer environment for your employees and customers.
Slippery surface reduction
A restaurant is a hive of activity, especially the kitchen. The high expectation to get customers their precise orders on time can make it stressful; when combined with food and water from prep work, the potential for precarious puddles persists.
To assure your floors are the driest and cleanest they can be, please take note of these top six sure-fire safety tips!
1. Find the right slip resistant shoe for you by browsing through our varied range.
2. Utilise slip-resist material or anti-skid tape in busy and bustling areas, place slip resistant mats in entrances when it's rained outside and do the same at the front of your sinks.
3. Choose floor cleaning and maintenance products with slip-resistant properties that are right for the specific surface in your restaurant.
4. Inform and brief your staff on the correct cleaning process and materials.
5. Ensure there are plenty of rubbish bins near food prep stations to minimise the volume of excess debris on the floor.
6. Eliminate or mop up spills and puddles immediately, placing safety signs to warn employees and customers of potential hazards.
Uneven flooring
Height difference between surfaces should never exceed half an inch. If an employee walks from a carpet onto a tiled floor and the height difference surpasses this amount, a sudden trip would be more likely for them.
Walk around your establishment and evaluate each area where floor surfaces vary, fixing anything that could prove problematic. Replace missing floor materials to ensure an even surface and consider putting signs in areas where there could be a potential trip hazard.
Ensure sufficient lighting
Dim lights or flashing lights can impair vision and cause someone to slip or trip on an unseen object. Installing proper lighting in work areas and walkways would minimise this problem considerably.
Get the right slip-resistant shoes
Comfortable and safe footwear in the workplace is imperative, as shoes with slippery soles could be a real danger to a restaurant worker. The benefits of slip-resistant shoes are well documented throughout Europe.
All employees who regularly work in an area that's exposed to slippery walking surfaces are required to wear safety shoes. You can make this much simpler for them by giving them access to a shoe program.
What other methods do you use to reduce slips and falls in your restaurant? If you have any tips for us, feel free to post it in the comments below!