In hospitality people walk for many hours, quickly and with their hands full. That is why falls are among the most common accidents. Some are on the same level (slips and trips on the floor) and others are from a height (stairs, stools, cellars).
What the regulation says
Real Decreto 486/1997 requires the floors of workplaces to be fixed, stable and non-slip, with no irregularities or dangerous slopes. It also asks for tidiness, cleanliness and maintenance, and for walkways to be free of obstacles.
Slips
The most common causes:
- Water, grease or food scraps in the kitchen and the service area.
- A freshly mopped floor.
- Ice or water on terraces and behind the bar.
- Worn or unsuitable shoes.
What to do:
- Clean up straight away whatever is spilled, or mark the danger with a sign until it is cleaned.
- Wear closed shoes with a non-slip sole. This is part of the protection that the employer must make available to you if the risk cannot be avoided in another way.
- Avoid running, even when you are in a hurry. Walk with a firm step.
- Dry the floor after mopping, or mop at the times when fewer people pass, and use the "wet floor" sign.
Trips
- Boxes, bags and trolleys in aisles.
- Cables from machines, coffee makers or lamps.
- Badly fixed rugs or unmarked steps.
- Poor lighting in back rooms and storerooms.
Tidiness and cleanliness are prevention: whatever is in the way in an aisle goes back where it belongs.
Stairs and heights
- To reach a high shelf, use a stepladder in good condition or a stable stool. Never a chair, a crate or a barrel.
- Climb facing the ladder, with both hands free and three points of contact.
- Do not climb with a heavy load: carry it up with help or by another means.
- Cellar stairs and service stairs must have handrails and enough lighting.
Table service
The dining room has its own risks:
- Trays: do not overload them. Spread the weight, use both hands and keep your elbow close to your body. A trolley is better than two heavy trays.
- Broken crockery and glasses: pick up the glass with a brush and dustpan, never by hand, and put it in a separate container.
- Swing doors between the kitchen and the dining room: use windows or crossing signs, and look before you go through. It is better to have one door for going in and another for coming out.
- Cuts and knocks from cutlery, bottles and furniture.
- Bar: a wet floor and glass are common.
Terraces
Working outdoors adds sun, rain, wind and heat. We will look at this in more detail in the lesson on the thermal environment. A terrace can also be slippery when it rains or is hosed down.
After a fall
If you fall, even if it does not seem serious, tell your superior. Some injuries, such as a blow to the head or a sprain, appear hours later. An accident that happens at work counts as an accident at work and the employer must record it and analyse its causes so that it does not happen again.
What you can ask for
A grease-free floor, suitable footwear, a safe ladder and enough light. If any of these is missing, say so. These small things prevent most falls.