How to Establish a Risk Management Plan for Your Restaurant

It is essential to plan for the worst to run a successful food business. Before you open your new restaurant, conduct a restaurant risk analysis to reduce the likelihood of a serious accident or a liability lawsuit.

This restaurant management checklist offers seven strategies for reducing the likelihood of an incident occurring, including effective food risk management and employee safety training. We'll also go over some common small business insurance policies that can help you reduce risk in your food business. 

1. Educate your restaurant's workers

 Because your employees are the lifeblood of your company, keeping them safe at work should be your top priority. And, because your employees are in charge of your day-to-day operations, they can often help avert potentially disastrous situations if they are properly trained. Consider the following employee education options when developing an effective risk-aversion strategy:

 Customer care

 Employees who interact with customers must be able to solve problems. For example, suppose a customer is dissatisfied with a meal. In that case, your employee should understand what to offer the customer to compensate for the inconvenience and when to involve the manager.

Service of alcoholic beverages. If your business serves, sells, or provides alcohol, you may be held liable for incidents involving intoxicated customers. It is critical for establishments that sell alcohol to ensure that their employees are properly trained in alcohol service. Proper training can help your employees detect signs of intoxication, understand the steps for refusing service, deal with intoxicated customers, and support quests. Some states even make this training mandatory.

Workplace security

 Regularly train your employees on proper lifting and carrying techniques for heavy items to keep them safe. Your chef and line cooks will require appropriate storage for sharp knives and tools and heat-protection equipment such as potholders.

 It would help if you also considered mandating footwear and clothing that reduces the risk of injury. If a worker is injured on the job, workers' compensation insurance can cover medical expenses and partial wages if time away from work is required to recover.

 Procedures for safety

 Walk your employees through the safety protocol for your food business, such as how to handle properly, store, prepare food, and what to do in a fire, robbery, or another disaster.

2. Make use of technology

 Running a business in the digital age comes with its challenges. For example, you are vulnerable to cyber theft if you store customer information on a computer or point-of-sale device, such as credit card numbers. However, you can use technology to help protect your company. Consider the following:

Anti-virus protection software

Using the right firewalls and software, you can keep malware, phishing, and viruses at bay.

Protect your Wi-Fi network with a password

Offering internet access is a good way to attract customers, but you also want to secure your network. Use secure networks and only give out the Wi-Fi password to paying customers.

Cameras for security

Security cameras aren't exactly cutting-edge technology, but they can help deter criminal activity and theft.

We are passionate about hospitality at InnQuest Canada. We are a Canadian company that works with hotels and restaurants and provides roommaster training from the Atlantic to the Rocky Mountains. For the past 20 years, we have provided industry consultation, software, and solutions.