Slips and trips in catering and hospitality
Main projects - Stop Slips in Kitchens; Shattered Lives-Slips, Trips & Falls from Height publicity campaign
Others - Slips, Trips & Cleaning; Slips, Trips, Falls and Building & Plant maintenance
Aim
To reduce the number of major injury slip and trip accidents within hospitality and catering by raising awareness and improving management of slips and trips. To provide advice on practical control measures and take enforcement action where appropriate.
Justification
55% of major injuries in the hotel and catering sector are due to slips and trips. Last year (2007/8 p) slips and trips resulted in 659 major and 1228 over-3-day injuries (30%). It is in the top ten of the poorest performing industry sectors for slips and trips. If slips and trips at work are to be reduced and targets met, making improvements in this industry is important.
Audience/industry
Although slips and trips can happen anywhere inside or outside of a building, most slip accidents happen in the kitchen or restaurant area. Employees most at risk include catering assistants, chefs, waiting and bar staff. Focus on preventing slips in the kitchen and where appropriate raise effective management of cleaning systems and building and plant maintenance to prevent slips and trips.
Key messages
- Shattered Lives - Slips, Trips & Falls from Height publicity campaign – employers can stop slips; stopping slips will save companies money and protect their reputation.
- Kitchens - Everyone has a part to play when it comes to stopping slips. Chefs, managers and business owners need to set up effective systems for preventing slips and trips and ensure staff are informed, trained and following those systems. Staff can make a big difference by adopting a ‘see it, sort it’ mentality.
- Cleaning – Cleaning is a key factor in the control of slips and trips. It can remove hazards but can also introduce them. Cleaning companies need to improve their cleaning regimes and ensure cleaners are informed, trained and following those systems.
- Building and plant maintenance - Contractors, owners, facilities & maintenance managers can effectively reduce the risk of slips and trips due to maintenance issues in and around buildings and machines. Providing training and checking staff competency can help to ensure that everyone works safely.
Activities required
- Shattered Lives - Slips, Trips & Falls from height publicity campaign – conduct targeted inspections to check awareness of campaign messages and any action taken as a result.
- STEP – slips and trips e-learning package – encourage use of sector specific STEP package
- Kitchens - alert relevant dutyholders to the stop slips in kitchens initiative and key messages. Distribute information packs to local businesses. Conduct targeted inspections and hold awareness raising events where possible.
- Cleaning - investigate and secure improvements at companies where cleaning takes place and where slips and trips are identified as a matter of evident concern.
- Building and plant maintenance – ensure the management of local maintenance activities is being undertaken with consideration being given to slip and trip issues. Check whether individuals have received adequate training for the tasks in hand.
Timing
Throughout 2009/10.
Diversity
Inspectors should be aware of who (in terms of diversity e.g. men, women, disabled etc) is the target group in the sector they are dealing with. Give consideration to, and factor into the approach, any issues that may surround this audience such as literacy issues, English as a second language and disability (access needs).
The Diversity pages give more information on these areas.
For information
Detailed guidance on inspections
For more information and resources visit the HSE website
