As of the 10th of November, 134 Australian workers have died on the job this year. Employing people in restaurants, hotels and pubs can prove to be a surprisingly dangerous work environment. The industry often hires young workers, or employees in their first role – think dishhands, waiters, bar tenders and cashiers – so many in the industry are inexperienced. 

The hospitality industry also experiences very high staff churn, with people employed part time, and working weekends or late nights. This can present serious work safety risks, so it’s crucial that potential hazards are properly identified and managed. As an employer, you are responsible for providing a safe workplace, along with the necessary training and instruction. 

Here’s a few key topics that you need to keep in mind for your workforce: 

Lifting & Pushing 

 
Around half of all hospitality injuries occur while staff are performing a manual handling task, such as lifting heavy or awkward objects like kegs, moving deliveries, or restocking the storeroom. These injuries are usually musculoskeletal-type injuries that can cause pain to knees, backs, or elbows, or result in muscle tears and contusions. 

You can mitigate this risk by educating your employees on how to correctly lift objects – with their legs, rather than their back, and keeping the object close to the body. Similarly, teach your employees to ask their colleagues for assistance if necessary. 

Slips, Trips & Falls 

 
With wait staff constantly on the go and on their feet, slips, trips, and falls are inevitable. Hospitality businesses are also a hot bed for liquid spills on the floor. As a starting point you need a process to deal with food and beverage spills. You also need to ensure that there are no crowded thoroughfares – a side benefit of proper traffic management in your venue means that the service also flows smoothly. 

Similarly, ensure that staff are wearing appropriate footwear – designed for employees who spend extended hours on their feet. Slip resistant covering for floors in the back of house can also be a great preventative measure. 

Finally, old pipes or lines have a tendency to leak, especially around bar counters, taps, basins or sinks. While it is tempting to come up with a quick fix in these situations to keep things up and running, it’s a much safer and more responsible option to have these problems rectified.