In the hospitality niche, accidents can be an unfortunate reality. While you may not be able to completely prevent accidents from happening, there are steps you can take to reduce the chances of them occurring and help ensure a safe and comfortable environment for both customers and staff. Here are some tips for reducing accidents in the hospitality niche:
1. Ensure the safety of guests by establishing rules and regulations related to their behaviour. Regularly remind them about safety measures such as not running, not entering restricted areas, etc.
2. Maintain a safe environment for both employees and guests by regularly conducting inspections of all equipment and premises in use. Make sure that any electrical equipment, furniture, and fixtures are in proper working order.
3. Provide training and refresher courses to staff regularly. Remind them of the importance of following safety protocols and procedures at all times while they work.
4. Introduce safety checklists for all activities such as setup, cleaning, maintenance, and more that must be followed to reduce the risk of something going wrong.
5. Educate guests on safety measures, such as not leaving belongings unattended in public areas and notifying staff if they spot any hazardous situations.
6. Use technology for tracking purposes and for quickly detecting potential hazards before an incident takes place. Implement real-time monitoring systems that alert staff of any potential issues.
7. Adopt a safety culture in the workplace, where employees are encouraged to report hazardous situations without fear of retribution.
8. Ensure that all equipment is up to date, regularly inspected and maintained according to the manufacturer’s instructions to minimise the risk of failure or malfunction. Sadly, some companies fail to provide the right equipment, and this is a problem in itself. For instance, we recommend a kitchen trolley in Australia as well as proper knives, safety gear, and more.
Common Injuries in the Hospitality Niche
Slips, trips and falls are the most common type of injury in the hospitality industry. This is due to wet floors, uneven surfaces, incorrect footwear and poor lighting. With this in mind, it’s important to take measures to ensure that all areas of the premises are kept tidy and hazard-free. Also, you should consider providing staff with the appropriate PPE, such as non-slip shoes and aprons.
Other common injuries include burns from hot surfaces or liquids, cuts from knives or other equipment, and back injuries due to lifting heavy items. To prevent these injuries, it’s important to train staff in the safe handling and disposal of hazardous materials; not using equipment they are not familiar with; and proper body mechanics when lifting, bending or reaching.
Finally, it’s important to conduct regular safety inspections to identify potential hazards and rectify them. Safety inspections should be performed by a competent person and include checking for broken or worn equipment, loose cords and power cords, inadequate lighting, cleaning chemicals properly stored, and proper use of personal protective equipment. These inspections should be documented to ensure the safety of staff and guests, as well as to maintain a safe work area.
If possible, get a neutral third party to come in and inspect the premises for any safety issues. This can be a great way to identify hidden problems that may not have been noticed before. Additionally, it can help to create a culture of safety that encourages both employees and guests to be aware of potential risks.
With all these tips in mind, it is important to keep in mind that prevention is the best way to avoid accidents. Why not take positive steps today?
