Keeping your restaurant safe is a high priority in ensuring that your business continues flawlessly without issues. Also, customers expect restaurants to provide tasty meals in a safe and healthy environment. But things don’t always go as planned despite the owners’ and staff’s best intentions. However, because of the many risks inherent in the food service industry, most establishments get business insurance as a matter of policy.
A Safe Restaurant
Of course, improving safety will help bring in more customers. The customers need to feel safe. Likewise, the safer a restaurant is, the more likely customers are to come in, ultimately increasing profitability.
If you are interested in improving safety in your own restaurant, here are some essential tips to keep in mind:
Choose a Safe Location
The location of a business is crucial for both profit and safety, so choose wisely. Accidents, robberies, break-ins, and vandalism are more likely to occur in dark and secluded parts of town. If these incidents occur too often, customers will eventually stop patronizing your establishment.
Use the Right Fixtures and Furniture
After finding an ideal location, check the fixtures and furnishings to ensure that they don’t pose any safety hazards. Likewise, performing a thorough quality control check will minimize possible risks.
Don’t try to save money by getting inferior or substandard fixtures and furnishings. Items repurposed or undergoing extensive repairs may be cheap, but their risk isn’t worth the savings. It is generally better to spend more on quality accessories to ensure your staff’s and customers’ safety.
Proper Maintenance
Proper equipment maintenance will permanently save you time and money. However, it is just as essential to keep them well-maintained to ensure their functionality at all times. Scheduled care and maintenance will minimize the risk of breakdowns and prolong the life of your equipment. More importantly, it will help reduce the risk of injuries and property damage.
A Well-Trained Staff
Having a well-trained staff is vital to the success of a restaurant. Likewise, a team of dedicated professionals who can do their jobs properly is a joy to work with and helps streamline operations.
Make sure your staff can handle common emergencies as well. Also, they should be well-versed in fire safety and gas containment protocols, so they know what to do when emergencies occur. Periodic refresher training sessions could also help keep everyone prepared to act efficiently at a moment’s notice.
Appropriate Restaurant Insurance
The best thing to do as a restaurant owner is to get restaurant insurance. Despite your best efforts, accidents can and will happen.
While having insurance won’t prevent accidents and other unfortunate incidents from occurring, it can mitigate the risks and help you manage the consequences of these events.
Some of the risks that restaurant insurance can protect a business against are:
- Damage caused by fires, gas leaks, and faulty plumbing
- Storm and lightning damage
- Criminal liability arising from third-party loss or injuries
- Unfair employment practices
- Unjust employee termination
- Negligence or omission resulting in losses, injuries, or property damage
The Takeaway
Ensuring the safety of your staff and customers should be one of your main priorities as a restaurant owner. Additionally, having a safe environment free of risks will help streamline your operations and enable your employees to work more efficiently. It inevitably results in better service and an overall more satisfactory experience for your customers. Ultimately, your efforts will pay off in a more profitable business.
About Blue Sky Insurance Agency
For over 20 years, family owned Blue Sky Insurance Agency has proudly specialized in insurance and tax services for Virginia residents. Our philosophy is simple: “If you can dream it, we can insure it.” We strive to provide value to our clients by establishing and building relationships and focusing on more than just rates. We are dedicated to providing holistic and strategically tailored solutions to protect all of your assets, and to provide peace of mind wherever life takes you. To get in touch with us, fill out a complimentary quote form, or call us at one of our two locations:
North Chesterfield
Phone: (804) 745-4044
PO Box 35674
North Chesterfield, VA, 23235
Hours of Operation: Mon-Sat 9am-6pm
Richmond
Phone: (804) 404-2030
9932 Midlothian Turnpike
Richmond, VA, 23235
Hours of Operation: Mon-Sat 9am-6pm