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Written by Adam Miller
How To Improve Worker Safety At Your Restaurant

The United States is home to over 1 million restaurants, employing over 15 million workers a year in establishments both big and small. Regardless of the size, location, or type of restaurant, workers at these businesses often suffer a higher rate of injury and accidents than workers in other industries. Because of the higher risk of worker injuries, it's imperative for business owners to promote worker safety at all times. In today's Aegis blog post, we look at three ways to improve worker safety at restaurants, bars, delis, bakeries, and other food-service businesses.

Safer Handling Of Sharp Objects

One of the most common causes of restaurant worker injuries are lacerations and punctures from knifes and other sharp objects. In order to reduce injuries, restaurant owners should encourage safe handling of knives, specifically with training on proper cutting techniques. In addition, knife-related injuries can be lowered significantly through the use of cut-resistant gloves when cutting and slicing as well as when washing knives. Also, restaurants should also consider designating specific buckets or boxes for sharp debris that can also cause cuts, such as broken glass, bottles, and plates.

Burn Prevention

Burns are another common cause of worker injuries and accidents in the restaurant workplace, so reducing these incidents should be a top priority for restaurant owners. To achieve this goal, workers should always be required to use oven mitts or oven safe gloves instead of just relying on slippery, thin hand towels. In addition, proper shoes and aprons can also help protect against splatters of hot grease and high temperature food. Finally, thorough safety training should also be required for any employee using a deep fryer to ensure they are operated in a safe manner.

Reduce Slips and Falls

Finally, in the course of a day, a kitchen floor can become quite filthy after a single lunch or dinner service, and this can lead to slips and falls for workers and even customers walking in the restaurant. To increase worker and customer safety, there should be non-skid floor mats in key areas of the restaurant, specifically the entrance and exit to the kitchen, bar or drink service stations, and the main entrance to the restaurant. Also, floors should be cleaned as often as possible, but with the correct amount of soap to ensure the floor doesn't remain slippery. Finally, all restaurant employees should be required to wear slip-resistant shoes to reduce slips and falls.

Restaurants are a key employer of the American workforce, so it's important that they be safe places for workers, no matter the size or location. If you're a restaurant owner or are considering starting one of your own, worker safety should be one of the chief priorities to ensure you always have a healthy, strong workforce to help serve customers and grow your business.

In addition, restaurant owners also benefit from customized Restaurant Insurance, tailored to the unique needs of the restaurant industry. Aegis Insurance & Financial Services can help you get the quality, reliable Restaurant Insurance needed to protect your business as well as the employees who make your business shine. Contact Aegis today at 713-850-7622 for more information, or fill out our online form to request a free quote.

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