How to conduct a self-assessment of fall risks in a hospitality business

Falls are one of the most common accidents among hospitality workers. Slips pose a serious danger in themselves, as they can cause bruises, sprains, fractures or traumatic brain injuries. As you know, when working in a hospitality establishment, where sharp objects or extremely hot liquids are handled, the consequences of losing balance are greater, as burns, poisoning, cuts and all kinds of injuries can occur.   

Law 31/1995 of 8 November on Occupational Risk Prevention (PRL) requires companies to look after the health of their workforce through, among other measures, carrying out maintenance tasks that minimise the likelihood of these incidents. To prevent slips and falls, you should pay particular attention to:

• the lighting of work areas and walkways;
• orderliness within the facilities;
• any damage occurring on the premises, especially to the floor;
• workers’ postural hygiene while performing their duties; 
• ensuring adequate training for all employees;
• each worker’s needs for personal protective equipment.

To comply with current legislation, it is advisable to know how to carry out a self-assessment of employees’ fall risk, so that you do not rely solely on periodic analysis by occupational risk prevention experts. After all, it is your workers who best understand their duties, movements, weaknesses and difficulties when carrying out their tasks. To make the assessment as effective as possible, it is recommended to draw up a checklist and review each point regularly.

5 key aspects for self-assessing fall risks in hospitality

This list of considerations is suitable for all types of hospitality businesses, although it is advisable to adapt it to your particular situation and update it from time to time. This will prevent it from becoming outdated or from failing to check relevant aspects of your workers’ performance.

1. Compliance with regulations

Following regulations is essential in occupational risk prevention, as it not only helps protect workers’ health but also avoids substantial financial penalties. The measures employers must take regarding occupational risk prevention are governed by the following principles:

• avoid risks;
• assess unavoidable risks;
• address risks at their source;
• adapt work to the individual to reduce potential adverse effects on their health;
• take account of technological developments;
• where possible, replace hazardous actions or items with others that do not pose a danger;
• have a consistent prevention plan;
• adopt measures that prioritise collective protection over individual protection;
• properly train and inform workers.

2. Identifying fall risks

Knowing where the danger lies makes it possible to take effective measures to prevent falls. To do so, you should:

• identify positions with the highest risk of falls,
• signpost danger zones,
• more closely monitor work in these areas,
• inform employees of the risks and train them to remain alert and adapt their way of working to the needs of the role.

3. Staff training on falls

Once the positions with the highest risk have been identified and the necessary measures have been taken to minimise them, it is essential to provide appropriate training for workers in roles with greater exposure to falls. These staff members must know:

• the hazards they face and the preventive measures they can take, 
• the personal protective equipment (PPE) available to them,
• how to respond in an emergency,
• the measures to take on a day-to-day basis to prevent slips and loss of balance.

4. Condition and maintenance of risk areas

Those responsible for the hospitality establishment are required to know the condition of the facilities, especially areas with a greater risk of falls. To do this, you should review their condition regularly in order to carry out the necessary maintenance tasks as soon as possible, ensuring that the premises provide safety guarantees at all times.

5. Use of PPE to prevent falls

Personal protective equipment is the last resort for protecting workers and is used only when workplace safety cannot be guaranteed 100 %.

In hospitality, to reduce fall risk, the most useful and effective PPE is footwear, which must meet these requirements:

• be comfortable,
• have slip-resistant soles,
• feature an ergonomic design that facilitates movement.

At Shoes For Crews, we have been manufacturing safe, slip-resistant work footwear since 1984. Contact us and we will provide the advice you need.