Menu

Preventing slips, trips, and falls in the food service industry

Hazards such as greasy or wet floors, low lighting, and loose mats are common contributing factors to slips, trips, and falls in the food service industry.

A chief handing a waitress food to deliver to customers.

Creating a safe workplace and properly training employees can lessen the risk of falls.

Safety equipment and accessories

Simple safety accessories in the workplace will help keep employees safe. Consider adding these items to your kitchen if not already available.

  • Non-slip floor mats for wet areas
  • Anti-fatigue mats for workstations
  • Warning signs for wet floors
  • Ladders and footstools
  • Handrails and non-slip surfaces on staircases

Safety tips to avoid slips, trips, and falls

Employees should wear non-skid, waterproof shoes with low heels to prevent slips. To help reduce the risk of trips and falls, workers should not wear oversized or baggy pants or skirts.

Equipment

Use grills and hot surfaces with a built-in guard bar to help prevent accidental burns. Purchase fryers that have automatic features like dumping used grease and lowering food into hot oil, and always use splash guards on fryers.

Workplace housekeeping

Good housekeeping can positively impact safety in the workplace.

  • Keep high-traffic pathways clear
  • Clean up spills immediately
  • Clean floors regularly to prevent grease build-up
  • Ensure good lighting in work areas, delivery, and storage room

Ergonomic hazards

Lifting, carrying, bending, and reaching should all be considered when designing a workplace, placing equipment, and training employees. Reduce the need for lifting and carrying by providing hand trucks or other lifting devices. Assign monotonous, repetitive tasks such as food preparation to various employees throughout the day to avoid fatigue, soreness, and strained muscles. Additional ways to increase safety include installing a garbage chute and storing heavy items on lower shelves

Train employees on safe lifting methods, such as:

  • Do not carry more than you can handle — make extra trips or ask for help
  • Do not overload trays or pans
  • Lift with your legs, not your back
  • Keep the load close to your body
  • Do not lift if you cannot see over the load
  • Do not twist your body — instead, move your feet to pivot
  • Use your leg muscles to set down the load
  • Be sure fingers and toes are clear before setting it down

The information and recommendations contained in this material have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable. However, SECURA accepts no legal responsibility for the accuracy, sufficiency, or completeness of such information. Additional safety and health procedures may be required under particular circumstances. Please your SECURA Risk Management Consultant for more information.

Find an agent

Our independent agency partners will help you compare coverages and share industry insights as you shop for the right insurance policy for your needs.

Related articles

Restaurant fire safety

Help keep your restaurant, employees, and customers protected from fires by following these commercial kitchen safety guidelines.

Commercial kitchen safety: Preventing cuts and lacerations

Sometimes cuts or lacerations happen because workers are in a hurry — proper commercial kitchen knife safety can help reduce the risk of injury.

Commercial kitchen fire safety: Preventing burns

Burns are a common injury within the food service industry, but the risk of injury can be reduced by implementing commercial kitchen fire safety training and using proper equipment.

Coverages may not be available in all states. Coverages described are subject to all the terms and conditions of the policy, including deductibles, exclusions, and limits of liability. Not all agents are authorized to write all types of insurance. Policies may be underwritten by SECURA Insurance Company or SECURA Supreme Insurance Company, affiliated companies referred to collectively as SECURA Insurance Companies. Please read the policy carefully. Any claim example is for educational and informational purposes only. The information in this document will not be used to determine the coverage of an actual claim presented. All claims are adjusted based on the relevant facts, conditions and coverages at the time of loss. For specific terms and conditions, please refer to your coverage form. Coverage is also subject to applicable deductibles and limits of coverage.

The information provided by SECURA on its Website (the Site) is for general informational purposes only. All information on the Site is provided in good faith, however SECURA makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness of any information on the Site. The information contained on the Website is to the best of our knowledge true and accurate at the time of publication, however it is generally to be used solely for informational purposes. The materials on this website are not guaranteed to be correct, complete or up to date. You should not act or rely only on information on this website.

The Site may contain (or you may be sent through the Site links to other websites or content belonging to or originating from third parties or links to websites and features in banners or other advertising. Such external links are not investigated, monitored, or checked for accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability or completeness by SECURA. SECURA DOES NOT WARRANT, ENDORSE, GUARANTEE, OR ASSUME RESPONSIBILITIES FOR THE ACCURACY OR RELIABILITY OF ANY INFORMATION OFFERED BY THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES LINKED THROUGH THE SITE OR ANY WEBISTE OR FEATURE LINKED IN ANY BANNER OR OTHER ADVERTISING. SECURA WILL NOT BE A PARTY TO OR IN ANY WAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MONITORING ANY TRANSACTION BETWEEN YOU AND THIRD-PARTY PROVIDERS OF PRODUCTS OR SERVICES.

UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCE SHALL SECURA HAVE ANY LIAIBLITY TO YOU FOR ANY LOSS OR DAMAGE OF ANY KIND INCURRED AS A RESULT OF THE USE OF THE SITE OR RELIANCE ON ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THE SITE. YOUR USE OF THE SITE AND YOUR RELIANCE ON ANY INFORMATION ON THE SITE IS SOLELY AT YOUR OWN RISK.

SECURA would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time or accurate.

SECURA and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss of damage as a result of your reliance on the information contained within this website.