Hospitality workplace safety is a top priority for restaurants, hotels, and catering businesses in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. From busy kitchens to bustling front desks, keeping employees safe requires proactive planning, training, and resources tailored to your team. Beacon Mutual offers region-specific guidance to help you reduce injuries and protect your workforce.
Beacon Mutual has been protecting the region's hospitality workforce for more than 30 years. Today, we proudly serve businesses across Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, offering safety training, resources, and proactive risk management tailored to your industry.
Practical Tips to Keep Your Hospitality Team Safe:
1. Establish a Safety Mindset Before the Shift Starts
Build a safety-first culture that values prevention over action:
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Hold quick daily briefings to flag potential hazards (wet floors, busy walkways, equipment issues).
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Encourage all team members to voice concerns—"see something, say something" empowers proactive hazard response.
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Set expectations with supervisors to act immediately when unsafe conditions arise.
2. Manage Everyday Hazards Through Design & Tools
- Clean and dry floors continuously; use warning signs and proper matting to guard against slips, especially around dish stations and entryways.
- Keep exits and walkways clear—especially during peak hours—to support safe evacuation in emergencies.
- Implement fire prevention plans, train all staff, and keep flames—or heat sources—away from combustible materials.
- Store heavy or stackable items securely; use toe boards or rails to prevent falling objects in kitchens and storerooms.
3. Promote Safe Handling and Reduce Strain
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Use Beacon’s Lifting Techniques Poster and Material Handler Program to teach safer lifting—like bending knees, pivoting feet instead of twisting, and keeping items close to the torso.
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Encourage periodic breaks; warm-ups and shifts can reduce overexertion and repetitive strain injuries.
4. Follow Knife Safety Rules
- Ensure staff is trained on knife safety 101.
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Share Beacon’s Knife Safety Guide—covering proper selection, handling, sharpness maintenance, and safe storage.
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Train staff in the “claw grip” approach and stress the importance of focus—distracted slicing can lead to serious cuts or worse.
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Store knives in designated rack systems or sheathed carriers to prevent accidents and maintain organized workspaces.
5. Address Hidden Hazards in Hospitality
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Recognize mental health stressors—long hours, fluctuating shifts, high-pressure environments—and consider implementing mental health resources or Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs).
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Improve ergonomics with anti-fatigue mats, adjustable cutting surfaces, and thoughtful station layout.
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For seasonal or temporary hires, build rapid safety onboarding: safety checklists, quick hazard awareness training, and continual support.
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Continue post-pandemic hygiene standards—regular cleaning, ventilation checks, accessible sanitizers—to keep employees (and guests) healthy.
Build a Safety Culture Like Gregg's Restaurant:
A Real-World Success Story
Gregg’s Restaurant in Rhode Island, partnering with Beacon for over 20 years, built their own “recipe” for safety success:
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Established safety committees across departments (kitchen, bakery, and front-of-house) to conduct audits and gather diverse safety insights.
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Held proactive training and regular safety meetings, including online and in-person sessions.
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Implemented a Return-to-Work Program, ensuring injured staff returned safely, and incorporated well-being to reinforce a caring workplace culture.
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As Gregg’s owner Bob Bacon put it, “No one wants to see their workforce injured. We do what we can to prevent injuries and Beacon has been very helpful in that.”
Let Us Help You Too—Beacon's Safety Experts Are Here To Help!
- Beacon offers seminars and webinars and ergonomic services for restaurants, hotels, and other hospitality industry companies.
- In addition, our team of experienced safety professionals performs a variety of safety services like workplace assessments, onsite and remote safety training, and online training on dozens of topics to reduce the risk to your employees working in hotels, restaurants, seasonal events, catering, and more.
- Beacon's Loss Prevention Team is available to help you improve your workplace safety program. Contact us to schedule a safety consultation!
Ready To Learn How Beacon Can Partner With You...
For over 30 years, Beacon has been proud to provide workers' compensation insurance to the majority of local restaurants, bars, hotels, and eateries. We understand the industry and the challenges your Southern New England hospitality company faces, and we're here to support you and your employees.
Beacon Mutual