When you think of dangerous jobs, food service positions might not be the first roles that come to mind. But food service employees may face a variety of safety hazards while on the job.

Employee safety must be a concern for restaurant owners and managers. Keeping employees safe at work will prevent future legal problems, improve staff morale, reduce turnover, and ensure your business’s reputation stays positive. In this blog, we review several ways you can make your restaurant safer for employees.

Offer Safety Training

Establishing and executing safety procedures will ensure everyone stays safe in an emergency. However, these procedures will only work if every staff member knows when and how to execute them. Include safety training in each new employee’s first week and set aside time on a routine basis to remind the team of your restaurant’s safety procedures. Remember to keep everyone informed when procedures change.

Prevent Slips

Slips and falls are a common cause of workplace accidents. Taking steps to prevent slips and falls will help reduce your employees’ risk of encountering them. In high-traffic areas, like the kitchen, non-slip mats can help employees keep their footing in places where they might otherwise slip.

Spills are a major slipping hazard and are sometimes unavoidable. When a restaurant patron spills a drink, an employee just recently mopped, or another hazard is lingering on the floor, it’s critical that employees are aware of the danger to avoid it. Place caution signs on the floor to communicate potential dangers so that employees can walk around the obstacles.

Have Quality Lighting

Restaurants often make the mistake of considering lighting as part of the establishment’s aesthetics and atmosphere rather than its approach to safety. However, quality lighting can prevent tripping and other accidents. Dim lighting makes it easier to misstep or miss a hazard on the floor, such as a spill. A restaurant with high-quality lighting will greatly reduce its employees’ risk of accidents. Don’t forget to maintain your lighting as needed by replacing lightbulbs, checking fixtures for damage, and cleaning the lights and fixtures.

Restaurants can be a dangerous workplace. Luckily, there are many ways to make your restaurant safer for employees, like offering safety training, preventing slips, and having high-quality lighting. Take time to regularly inspect your restaurant to see where you can make safety improvements. Each step you take to protect your staff can also protect your restaurant’s reputation and employee satisfaction.