613 Worker Safety in Restaurants

Slips/Trips/Falls

Slips, trips, and falls can happen in the cooking area from cluttered, slippery floors with oil, water, or food on them. They are particularly hazardous in this area because workers can fall into or onto hot surfaces or liquids.

Possible Solutions

There are many things you can do to reduce the chance of slips, trips, and falls in the kitchen. Here are a few ideas:

• Wear non-slip waterproof footgear to decrease slip hazards.
• Clean up spills immediately to avoid falls.
• Eliminate cluttered work areas.
• Do not run in the cooking area.
• Do not store cooking oil on the floor. Someone may slip and fall into it.

Safe Work Practices

Employers should consider implementing the following safe work practices:

• Use non-slip matting on floor surfaces.
• If mats are not suitable to use on floors where grease is present, use no-skid waxes and surfaces coated with grit to create non-slip surfaces.

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