To celebrate the return of hospitality, Indeed Flex is hosting a series of webinars. The webinars are here to support our Flexer community and business owners alike, with up-to-date information on regulations and useful insights from professionals in the hospitality industry.
The first session was a discussion about health and safety in the workplace, which was presented by our very own Angela O’Haire. Angela is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to health and safety with over 31 years of previous experience in the industry. Here is an overview of what we discussed during the session:
Coronavirus and staying safe
With lockdown finally lifted and bars and restaurants now being allowed to serve al-fresco, it’s important that we are all aware of the necessary procedures to take in order to stay safe in the workplace. The best practices we can do in order to avoid coronavirus is by following social distancing at all times when possible, regularly washing our hands, and ensuring we are practicing the correct coughing and sneezing etiquette. When working in a bar or restaurant, it is also vitally important that we disinfect surfaces on a regular basis for obvious reasons. C
oronavirus has also had a big impact on our mental health and this is something we covered in the webinar. Our speaker Angela, spoke about the importance of creating a healthy routine to help make sure your mental health and wellbeing is being looked after. This included:
- Develop a daily routine
- Create a healthy sleep pattern
- Go for a walk/exercise
- Connect with your friends and colleagues
- Breath! Practice breathwork to calm the mind and power up the lungs
Fire and emergency procedures
When starting a new job for the first time, it’s important that you familiarise yourself with the fire exits and assembly points. Angela briefed the Flexers on staying calm and evacuating the building in the rare case that a fire alarm does go off. It is important to remember:
- Do not attempt to collect your personal belongings
- Never use the lifts
- Don’t leave assembly points unless instructed by your manager
- You may not re-enter the building until instructed by management
Accident procedures
As a hospitality worker, it is your duty to act responsibly and report any potential hazards to your manager. Please remember the importance of reporting any accidents, hazards, or near misses to your manager immediately. If the worker leaves the workplace without reporting the incident, then it is no longer the employer or site’s responsibility.
Control of substances that are hazardous
When working in the hospitality industry, you may encounter hazardous substances that could cause harm to your health if used incorrectly or consumed.
It is essential that hospitality workers only use these substances correctly if trained and instructed to do so. It’s vital that you read the labels and follow the instructions clearly, store them in the correct containers provided, wear protective clothing and wash your hands after use.
Make sure to be aware of the first aid procedures should any accidents occur during use.
Allergens
In order to ensure customer safety, it’s important to be aware of the “big 14” allergens that must be tracked by the hospitality industry, according to Angela. Here are the “big 14” allergens: peanuts, nuts, crustaceans, molluscs, fish, eggs, milk, cereals containing gluten, soya, sesame seeds, celery, mustard, lupin, and sulphur dioxide.
