So you think the hospitality business is pretty safe. You're not too worried about staff being hit by a flying panini or crushed under the weight of too many margaritas. Try telling that to the chef who was cleaning her restaurant kitchen at the end of a long night. She stepped back into a vat of hot cooking oil that had been put on the floor to cool. For an instant it felt intensely cold, like she'd stepped into a bucket of ice, and then the pain set in. Her third-degree burns took months to heal and the experience was terrifying for her boss and workmates.
When you think about it, kitchens are pretty dangerous places. Just about everything in them can do you harm, from sharp knives and slippery floors to the hot temper of a perfectionist chef. But with a bit of common sense, you can make your hospitality workplace safe, and avoid losing time and money through accidents.
* Look ahead Before you complete your design or fit-out, take a mental look around at your premises. Imagine how people are going to be working, where they'll be standing or walking, what they'll be carrying or lifting. "Walk through" their jobs and see where there are going to be problems: are waiters walking through doorways with hot bowls of soup? Make sure people aren't barging through in the opposite direction. Will fat be spattering onto the floor? Provide a non-slip mat for that area.
* Listen to the troops One of the best guides of what might go wrong in the future is what's gone wrong in the past, so keep track of any accidents or near misses. It may turn out that three people nearly slipped on that greasy patch before your best waiter broke his arm there. Encourage staff to talk to you about problems and listen when they do.
* Invest wisely Don't expect to run a hospitality business with home equipment: it won't last the distance or do the job properly. And don't let staff slave away all shift without a break, or set a bad example by doing that yourself. Professionalism in the hospitality trade is about more than white tablecloths and fancy menus. It's an attitude that comes from the top and affects every part of your business. Get your systems working properly and you'll be able to hire and keep the great staff you need to make your business a success.
* Ask around Have a look at the OSH and ACC websites: both have useful information on creating a healthy working environment. A number of hospitality schools and associations also have health and safety information available online. And ask for advice from those in the trade: a look around someone else's well-run business will give you some useful tips and tricks.
