Clean, organized spaces significantly reduce the risk of accidents and injuries for both employees and customers. But safety doesn’t stop at cleanliness; implementing a comprehensive risk management strategy ensures your restaurant is prepared to handle challenges inside and out.
Steps to Prevent Accidents and Injuries
Maintain Interior Restaurant Facility Standards
Maintaining high interior restaurant facility standards is essential for creating a safe and welcoming environment. From preventing slips and falls to ensuring well-lit, hazard-free spaces, proactive safety measures protect both employees and guests while keeping your operation running smoothly. Consider the following tips when maintaining the interior of your restaurant.
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- Keep the front and back of your restaurant’s floors clear of spills, dropped food, and other hazards.
- Place non-slip, rubber mats at entrances, exits, and any area that tends to get wet (think soda and ice machines, and sink areas).
- Regularly use degreasers and heavy-duty cleaners on kitchen floors and other areas subjected to increased foot traffic.
- After mopping, make sure caution signs are placed to alert customers and employees to proceed cautiously. Signs should be placed every time the floor is mopped and until the floor is completely dry. When there is rain or snow outdoors that can be tracked in, proactively set up a caution sign near the front door as well.
- Inspect bathrooms often to make sure the stalls and sink areas are free of debris. Fix water leaks right away to prevent wet floors, and make sure all bathroom fixtures are functioning properly.
- Inspect dining room furniture and equipment regularly to ensure items are sturdy and well-maintained. This includes tables, chairs or benches, and high chairs.
- Ensure the interior of your store, including hallways and bathrooms, is well-lit. Draw attention to changes in elevation with lights and signage to prevent trips.
Maintain Exterior Restaurant Facility Standards
The exterior of your restaurant is just as critical to safety as the interior. By ensuring your parking lots, sidewalks, and driveways are properly illuminated and free from potential slip and fall dangers, and by addressing weather-related risks promptly, you create a safe environment for employees and guests from the moment they arrive.
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- Just like your store’s interior, the exterior parking lot, driveways, and sidewalks need adequate lighting to ensure the safety of your guests and employees. Inspect the exterior of your restaurant regularly, and don’t forget to complete an inspection at nighttime so you can review the condition of your lighting.
- In times of inclement weather, use salt to prevent ice build-up, remove ice and snow immediately, and continually check on driveways and sidewalks as ice and snow can melt and refreeze—particularly overnight.
- Whenever possible, it’s recommended that access to the dumpster area is secured with a lock.
- You can learn more risk management tips for your restaurant in our blog article that provides 9 areas of focus to mitigate exterior slips, trips and falls at a business.
Develop a Risk Management Plan for Your Restaurant
A comprehensive risk management plan is the cornerstone of a safe and efficient restaurant. By establishing routine inspections, creating detailed cleaning schedules, and ensuring employees and vendors follow safety protocols, you can proactively address potential hazards and foster a culture of safety.
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- Create a routine inspection schedule for the interior (don’t forget the bathrooms!) and exterior of your restaurant. Make sure your employees understand what they’re looking for and why it’s important. Doing so makes the inspection more meaningful and infuses a culture of safety and cleanliness with your employees.
- Promptly coordinate the repair of issues identified by routine inspections. Keep in mind that defects to flooring, sidewalks, and pavement are of particular concern because they create tripping hazards.
- Create a front and back of the restaurant cleaning schedule. Document what needs to be completed and when.
- Your employee dress code should always require non-slip footwear.
- When hiring building cleaners, parking lot attendants, snow removal companies, and any other vendor who tends to your premises, make sure your contract includes a hold harmless and indemnity agreement. This agreement should be in favor of you, your employees, and your business. For an extra layer of protection, request these vendors add you as an additional insured to their General Liability Policy. Taking these steps serves as a way to transfer the risk of maintaining your premises to your vendors.
- Incorporate regular training sessions with your employees that cover topics like safe equipment usage, food safety standards, and emergency preparedness.
Prioritizing safety and risk management in your restaurant isn’t just about compliance—it’s about protecting your employees, customers, and business. By maintaining high standards both inside and outside your facility, creating a proactive risk management plan, and fostering a culture of safety, you can reduce accidents, enhance your reputation, and keep your operation running smoothly. A safe restaurant is a successful restaurant, and it starts with the steps you take today!
