With the arrival of winter’s ice and snow, comes the increased risk of slip and fall accidents at your restaurant. This time of year, the danger increases as doors open, and people track in the weather, making floors slippery and creating potentially hazardous indoor conditions.
Keeping the floor clean, dry, and hazard-free means upping the safety for your guests and staff, and there are some steps you can take to maximize safety and minimize the risk of slip and fall accidents happening in your restaurant:
- Start by accident-proofing the outside of your restaurant as much as you can by salting and clearing the area. Be sure to store snow removal tools in a handy spot so you can regularly clear a path to your front door as winter weather hits. Accidents in parking lots are responsible for 51 per cent of slip and fall claims, so this is a key area for your attention.
- Assess the lighting in your parking lot and on the way to your entrance. Ensure that all lights are functional and well placed so guests can see any obstacles or tripping hazards like curbs, raised pavement or stones, and snow.
- Install matting inside and outside your entrance to minimize the amount of water and dirt that gets tracked through the restaurant. Ensure that you clean, dry, and change saturated mats, and watch for any wrinkling that guests could trip over.
- Matting should also be installed in wet kitchen areas like dish pits, allowing water to drain through, and keeping the area non-slip and limiting the amount of water that travels from the kitchen to the rest of the restaurant.
- Pay attention to ventilation system. Vapourized oils from the grill and deep fryer can settle on the floor, making it slippery if your ventilation system is less than optimal.
- Put procedures in place that ensure that any spills or obstacles are removed promptly. Block off wet areas and use temporary signage to keep guests away from potential slippery areas.
- Include Workplace Safety & Preventative Services (WSPS) training for new and returning staff. Ensure that your team know the steps to take should an accident occur on your property.
As the seasons change and snow and ice arrive, operators need to take steps to minimize the risk of slip and fall accidents for restaurant guests and staff members.
