Restaurants may not be prone to emergencies and disasters, but they are fertile ground for potential problems. Cooking in the restaurant can easily cause a fire, floods can occur from weather or plumbing issues, and burglaries can happen to anyone. Be prepared for emergencies in the restaurant and have a plan for when a disaster does occur by doing the following:
- Document all procedures. Include all emergency procedures in your employee handbook. » Learn More
- Make procedures visible. Hang posters with procedures in visible places around the restaurant.
- Provide safety supplies. Provide easy access to safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers and gloves. In addition, have one or more first-aid kits located in the restaurant
- Follow local codes. Follow all local safety and health codes for your area, including fire codes.
Click on the following links to learn more about the different types of emergency or crisis situations that could happen in a restaurant:
Power Outage
Power outages in restaurants can turn into emergencies when they affect the guest experience and when food is in danger of going bad. Learn more about how to prepare for a power failure and what to do when it happens.
Weather Emergency
In many parts of the country, weather emergencies are serious threats to homes and businesses alike. Learn how to protect your employees and patrons when weather emergencies strike.
Fire
Kitchen fires can happen in an instant, and restaurants should be prepared to handle fires with procedures and safety equipment. Learn more here.
Robbery
Although quick-service restaurants are more vulnerable to burglary, it can happen to any restaurant. Learn how to maintain security and awareness to guard against losses and keep employees safe.
Employee Illness/Injury
Be aware of the steps to follow when an employee falls ill or gets injured on the job, and download a sample illness/injury report.
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