4 Solutions to Help Bars Reduce Trip Hazards in the Workplace

The Coronavirus pandemic and the shortage of staff have added extra strain on an already overstretched industry. Managers are seeking ways to mitigate risks under the pressurised conditions and want to implement solutions to avoid trip hazards in the workplace. 

The regular demands of professions such as chefs, barmen, servers and hosts have been stretched past their limits as issues such as overcrowding and operating costs have sharply increased. Not to mention keeping up with demand in terms of hosting larger groups of patrons with parties and big events making a welcome return in local pubs and bars. These establishments can sometimes be dimly lit or dark in some hallways and stairwells, which can pose risks for customers and staff.

However, physical injuries from slips, trips and falls are controllable external factors. In fact, now is a particularly crucial time to offer extra support to hospitality employees. Some of the most common safety hazards in bars and pubs include: 

• Injuries from incorrect manual handling
• Slips, trips and falls  
• Hazardous chemicals  
• Kitchen fires  
  

4 Tips to help bars reduce trip hazards in the workplace

Even before the added stresses and strains on the profession, slip, and trip hazards have been at the forefront of bar staff’s minds for some time. When implementing solutions to minimise risks, it is important that employers take note of the areas that need improvement.

In this article, we are going to focus on trip hazards in bars and the solutions to help reduce these safety issues in the workplace. Shoes For Crews can offer practical ways to keep your employees safe and protected at work.

1. Good housekeeping

When assessing risk, the first place that should be paid attention to is the workstation. This area will contain everything a bartender needs to prepare drinks and cocktails. Items like glassware, ice, mixers, and garnishes. Make sure any and all glass trays are properly stored away underneath the bar and do not create a trip hazard for anyone walking behind it.

It is also crucial to remove potential obstructions and any item that could potentially block someone’s view. A stray lead, stools not correctly pushed in or even mops and brooms not stored away after a cleaning shift. Apart from these, advise your employees to be careful when walking across different types of floors such as tile, wood, or carpet. With Shoes For Crews’ TripGuard feature, your workers can benefit from the slight curve and tight lug pattern on select shoe styles. This uniquely patterned slip-resistant outsole will allow for easier transitions between floor surfaces.

2. Spill clean-up

Talk to cleaning staff and make safety measures and expectations clear. Bars may require a bit more clean-up than other types of venues and therefore need more regular cleaning regimens. From pouring pints to mixing drinks and serving up traditional pub food, spills on tables and floors are inevitable.

Protect your staff from the risks that spilled drinks pose by ensuring they are armed with easy-to-clean, slip-resistant work shoes. Our SpillGuard technology can protect feet from both hot and cold liquid spills. And our water-resistant uppers can help keep bartenders from muddling through a potentially wet shift of pouring pint after pint. 

3. Correct lifting and carrying techniques

It is highly likely that at least some of your staff will have to do heavy lifting at certain parts of the early afternoons or evenings. They will be handling a variety of things from heavy items such as tables and large delivery boxes to full pots and pans. Not to mention trays of glasses and piles of plates to carry back to the kitchen. If any heavy object or box is not handled correctly, it can lead to musculoskeletal injuries, especially if repeated over time.

By implementing proper carrying and lifting techniques, your staff will avoid putting their physical and muscular health at risk. This is especially important for chefs, servers and cleaners to keep in mind. Proper footwear will encourage healthy posture and can help prevent repetitive stress and strain injuries.

4. High-quality, protective footwear

Trips and slips are the most common hazards employees in the hospitality industry can encounter. Not only do you want to ensure your bar is well-lit, especially around areas with stairs, you want to protect your employees’ feet. Your team will feel valued when wearing suitable footwear with good grip and they will likely be more motivated to perform their tasks.

Long shifts filled with intense, fast-paced influxes of customers can be taxing on both a bartender’s mind and body. If proper footwear is not worn at work, this may contribute to ill-health and tired muscles. Your team will greatly benefit from supportive and durable work shoes to help get them through each shift, night after night. 

We hope you have learned some helpful solutions that you can implement in your bar or pub to prevent trip hazards among employees. Managers play a key role in protecting their staff during an especially demanding time in the hospitality sector. At Shoes For Crews, we offer a range of styles that are fit for a variety of bar staff’s duties and responsibilities. Or if you want to browse the best shoes for working behind a bar, we encourage you to take a look at them. 

If you need more information or would like to speak to someone about ordering a sample pair of work shoes to help prevent trip hazards in the workplace, please get in touch!