When running a restaurant business, several key factors must be considered to ensure your business’s success. One of the most important to focus on is the quality and safety of the food you serve. This means ensuring that all food is prepared and stored correctly and that your kitchen and restaurant are clean and free from bacteria.  

It is also necessary to pass regular health and kitchen inspections and create a health and safety audit report to demonstrate that your restaurant is safe and healthy. An audit checklist is essential for ensuring that your restaurant passes all necessary health inspections and maintains a safe environment for both employees and customers. A checklist can help you keep track of important safety tasks and ensure that they are completed daily.  

Health and Safety in Restaurants 

Every day, restaurants are often busy with an influx of customers, making it important to prioritise health and safety to avoid any potential food-related illnesses. This means implementing strict hygiene practices, cooking food to the proper temperature, and storing and handling food to prevent contamination. By taking these measures, restaurants can ensure that their customers have a safe and enjoyable dining experience. 

Restaurants can be a potential source of safety hazards for employees and customers.  

Slips, Trips, and Falls  

A slip can happen when a person loses their footing on a wet or slick surface, while a trip can occur when someone catches their foot on an object or uneven surface. A fall can happen when someone slips or trips and cannot catch themselves. These can be particularly dangerous because they can lead to spills, burns, and other injuries.  

Restaurants must do the following to avoid slips, trips, and falls: 

• Maintain clean, dry, and non-slippery floors and stairs. 
• Keep debris and obstructions off the floors and stairs. 
• Make sure there are no trip hazards on the floor, such as raised or broken sections. 
• To remove grease and other slippery substances, mop floors with the recommended amount of cleaning product in water or fluid. Use clean mops to avoid spreading grease. 
• Polish and treat floors with slip-resistant waxes. 
• Check carpeting, rugs, and mats for holes, loose threads, edges, and bumps that could cause tripping. 
• Use appropriate warning signs for wet floors and other potential hazards. 
• Make sure there is enough lighting everywhere. 
• Check that ladders and footstools are in good condition and have non-skid feet. 
• Clean up anything you drop or spill. If you notice a hazard, remove it or clean it up as soon as possible. If you cannot resolve the risk yourself, notify your supervisor immediately. 

Fire Hazards  

One potential fire safety hazard in a restaurant is the improper storage and handling of cooking oils and fats. These materials can easily ignite and can cause a fire to spread rapidly if not stored and handled properly.  

Restaurants must do the following to avoid fire hazards: 

• Store cooking oils and fats in appropriate containers.  
• Regularly clean and maintain cooking equipment to avoid grease and oil build-up.  
• Have a fire extinguisher readily available in the kitchen in case of a fire. 
• Train workers on how to use fire extinguishers properly.  

Chemical Hazards  

Chemical hazards are a potential safety concern in a restaurant setting. These hazards can arise from using cleaning chemicals, sanitisers, and other chemicals in the kitchen and dining areas. Inhalation, ingestion, and skin and eye contact are all potential routes of exposure to chemical hazards in a restaurant.  

Restaurants must do the following to avoid chemical hazards: 

• Be informed/trained, and ensure you understand the hazards of the chemicals you work with.  
• Secondary containers, such as spray bottles, should be labelled with the product name and hazard warnings. 
• Wear personal protective equipment, such as gloves, face shields, splash goggles, etc. 

Falling Objects  

Falling objects are a potential safety hazard in a restaurant. This hazard can occur when things are not properly secured or stored or when employees do not properly handle them. In a restaurant setting, falling objects can include items such as pots and pans, kitchen equipment, and even food items. These objects can cause injuries if they fall and hit a customer or employee.  

Restaurants must do the following to avoid falling objects: 

• Properly store and secure all things, particularly where customers and employees are present.  
• Use appropriate shelving, racks, and other storage solutions to keep objects securely in place.  
• Train employees to handle and move things properly to prevent them from falling.  

Machinery Accidents  

These accidents can occur when workers are not properly trained on how to use machinery, when machinery is not maintained correctly, or if not used, following the manufacturer’s instructions.  

In a restaurant setting, machinery can include kitchen equipment such as mixers, blenders, slicers, and other appliances. These machines can cause serious injuries if not used properly, such as cuts, lacerations, and even amputations.  

Restaurants must do the following to avoid machinery accidents: 

• Provide employees with appropriate training on how to use machinery safely. Training should cover how to properly assemble and disassemble equipment, operate and control the machinery, and safely clean and maintain the equipment.  
• Regularly inspect and maintain machinery to ensure that it is in good working condition. 
• Promptly repair or replace any faulty or damaged parts. 

Sprains, Strains, and Pains  

These injuries can happen when employees lift, carry, or otherwise handle heavy objects or perform repetitive tasks. In a restaurant, these can be caused by lifting heavy pots and pans, carrying food trays, and chopping and slicing ingredients. These injuries can be particularly debilitating for employees, as they can cause pain, discomfort, and even loss of mobility.  

Restaurants must do the following to avoid sprains, strains, and pains: 

• Provide employees with proper training on lifting, carrying, and handling objects safely. This can include training on proper lifting techniques, such as bending at the knees and using the legs to lift rather than the back.  
• It is important to provide employees with appropriate tools and equipment, such as carts and dollies, to assist with heavy lifting.  

Food Hazards  

These hazards can arise from various sources, including poor food handling practices, inadequate cooking and food preparation techniques, and the use of spoiled or contaminated ingredients. Food hazards in a restaurant can cause various illnesses, including food poisoning, bacterial infections, and other health problems.  

Restaurants must do the following to avoid food hazards: 

• Follow proper food handling and preparation techniques, such as keeping raw and cooked foods separate, washing hands and surfaces frequently, and cooking foods to the appropriate temperature.  
• It is important to use fresh, high-quality ingredients and regularly inspect and maintain food storage and preparation equipment to ensure they are all in good working condition.  

Restaurant Safety Rules 

Restaurant safety rules are essential for ensuring the safety of customers, workers, and the general public. These rules cover a wide range of topics, including food safety, hygiene, fire prevention, and emergency procedures. By following these rules, restaurants can help to prevent accidents, illnesses, and other safety hazards and promote a safe and healthy work environment. 

Monitor employee health 

It is important for restaurant staff to regularly monitor their health and report any symptoms of illness, such as fever, cough, or difficulty breathing, to their supervisor. This can help prevent the spread of illness among staff and customers. 

Practice good hygiene 

Employees should wash their hands regularly, use hand sanitiser, and avoid touching their faces, mouth, and eyes. They should also regularly disinfect and clean commonly touched surfaces, such as counters, tables, and door handles. 

Set up hand sanitiser stations  

The restaurant should set up hand sanitiser stations for employees and customers to use throughout the establishment. These stations should be stocked with hand sanitiser that contains at least 60% alcohol. 

Encourage regular hand washing 

Everyone at work should be encouraged to wash their hands regularly, especially before and after handling food, after using the restroom, or after coughing and sneezing. The restaurant should provide employees with soap and water for hand washing. 

Limit the number of customers 

The restaurant should limit the number of customers allowed inside the establishment at any given time. This can help maintain social distancing and prevent overcrowding. 

Wear personal protective equipment (PPE) 

Employees should wear appropriate PPE, such as masks and gloves, while working in the restaurant. This can help prevent the spread of illness and protect employees from exposure to harmful substances. 

Follow food safety guidelines 

Employees should follow established food safety guidelines, such as cooking food to the appropriate temperature and storing food at the correct temperature, to prevent the spread of food-borne illness. 

Communicate with Customers 

Restaurants should also encourage customers to follow safety guidelines, such as wearing masks, washing their hands regularly, and maintaining a safe distance from others. This can help protect both employees and customers. 

How You Can Prevent Injuries and Have a Safer and Healthier Workplace 

There are several recommendations that can be taken to prevent injuries and promote a safer and healthier workplace. Some key measures include: 

1. Operating equipment safely – following all manufacturer’s instructions and ensuring that all safety guards are in place and functioning properly. 

2. Take caution to prevent slips, trips, and falls - by keeping floors clean and free of clutter, using non-slip mats in wet areas, and wearing appropriate footwear. 

3. Preventing burn hazards - by ensuring that hot surfaces are correctly marked and that flammable materials are stored and handled safely. 

4. Prevent cuts and lacerations from sharp knives and other sharp objects - using the appropriate cutting technique, using a cutting board, and keeping knives sharp and in good condition. 

5. Preventing sprains and strains - by using proper lifting techniques, avoiding awkward positions, and using mechanical aids where appropriate. 

6. Preventing chemical hazards – by storing chemicals in their original containers, properly labelling all containers, and using personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling chemicals. 

7. Practising fire safety procedures - including having a fire evacuation plan, regularly checking and maintaining fire extinguishers, and conducting regular fire drills. 

Overall, it is vital to have an effective safety programmed in place and to regularly train employees on safety procedures to help prevent injuries and promote a safer and healthier workplace. 

Make Safety a Top Priority with Inform People’s Compliance & Performance Software  

Whether it’s a regular day or having an event, it can be a stressful and busy time for restaurants, but it’s crucial to prioritise safety. With Inform People’s compliance and performance management software, restaurants can easily create and manage checklists for safety tasks, ensuring that all required tasks are completed on time and following up-to-date regulations and standards. 

Some examples of safety checklists that can be created with compliance and performance management software from Inform People include daily sanitation tasks, food safety procedures, and emergency plans. By regularly completing these checklists and monitoring the results, restaurants can help to prevent accidents and incidents and ensure that their operations are safe and compliant. 

In addition to creating and managing checklists, compliance and performance management software offers various other valuable features, such as live dashboards and reports, automated alerts and notifications, and learning and event management modules. 

If you want to prioritise safety in your restaurant, consider investing in Inform People’s compliance and performance management software. Get started today and create custom checklists to manage your safety tasks.