You already have what it takes to create amazing food that people will love. Your next consideration is how to ensure that your staff and customers stay safe at your restaurant. It is important to familiarize yourself with the OHSA and FDA guidelines for restaurant workers. Here are just a few of those safety protocols you will need to follow.
Enforce Sanitary Rules
The FDA has many resources to help you learn the proper sanitary guidelines for your restaurant. There are protocols given for both employees’ personal hygiene and the safe handling of food. The basic rules for employees emphasize proper hand-washing techniques, the use of gloves when handling food, and avoiding touching the eyes, nose, and mouth. Food handling guidelines center around four key safety protocols: Always clean surfaces, separate raw meat from other ingredients, cook food adequately, and chill food immediately. Remembering these basic guidelines will help you keep your customers safe from food-borne illnesses.
Keep First Aid Equipment
The OHSA is concerned with the workplace safety of your establishment. You can find OHSA guidelines for restaurants online. One of the first things you should do to ensure workplace safety is to acquire the appropriate first aid and other personal protective equipment (PPE). This should include bandages, gauze pads, triangular bandages, wound cleanser, tweezers, scissors, latex gloves, a burn-relief kit, PPE and an automated external defibrillator (AED). AED devices can save a life in a situation where someone is having a heart attack.
Reduce Safety Hazards
The most common injuries at restaurants are actually sprains and strains. Heavy lifting, reaching, and bending over can cause these types of injuries. Your workplace should flow in such a way as to reduce or eliminate the need for these unsafe movements. At the same time, be sure to be aware of other safety hazards in the kitchen, such as cutting tools, hot surfaces, wet floors, and more.
You can significantly reduce the risk of these types of injuries by installing safety features on your equipment, properly training your employees, and enforcing safety protocols. The last thing you want is for someone to get sick or injured at your restaurant. You can’t prevent every accident from happening, but you can take the necessary steps to significantly decrease the chances. The most important thing you can do is set the proper example and develop a culture of safety at your workplace. This is done through consistent training and diligence.
Did you enjoy this article? Here’s more to read: How to preserve your restaurant’s reputation!