According to WorkSafeBC, two of the most significant injuries on licensed premises are due to overexertion and falling. From 2003 to 2007, overexertion injuries accounted for 20 per cent of the compensation costs in the sector (more than $1.2 million over the five-year period), while falls represented 17 per cent and $1.1 million.
Such costs could be greatly reduced with basic forethought, says Birgitta Ekberg-Daly, human resources director for The Strathcona Hotel in Victoria. “Accident prevention isn’t rocket science,” she says. “What it takes is constant diligence and a willingness of management to try different strategies.”
Located in downtown Victoria, the 64-year-old, family-owned establishment boasts seven separate facilities under one roof, including The Sticky Wicket Pub & Restaurant, Big Bad John’s, Element, and The Clubhouse, which alone is Vancouver Island’s largest nightclub. On a typical Saturday night, the Strathcona can welcome as many as 1,000 patrons, served by as many as 250 staff. But its owners, management and staff have together taken proactive steps to make this a safe and enjoyable workplace.
Here are some of their simple strategies worth considering:
1. Foster a culture of safety.
At the Strathcona, numerous safety initiatives have been tested, implemented and fine-tuned under the watchful eyes of its owners, the brothers Grant, Kirk and Craig Olson. Although the establishment has the financial wherewithal to implement ambitious ideas, Ekberg-Daly emphasizes that the real key to keeping staff and patrons safe has been the owners' mindset. “In an industry where safety records have been notoriously bad, the Olsons have fostered a culture of safety,” she says. “They are very in tune with their business and staff, and they never stop thinking of how operations can be improved. Providing you have willing managers, it’s not too difficult to 'raise the bar,’ because one has direct access to volumes of information from venues, such as the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB),” she says.
2. Hold regular meetings to review procedures.
Augmenting current procedures and initiatives at the Strathcona is an ongoing focus in occupational health and safety training. “In accordance with WCB, we have monthly OH&S meetings where we mull over various issues and discuss preventative ideas and measures,” says Ekberg-Daly. “The participants in this committee are mainly front-end staff and myself, which makes the buy-in from staff easier when implementing new safety procedures.”
3. Anticipate how your customers behave.
One of the main hazards the Strathcona wanted to address was the risk that either customers or staff could slip on the dance floor due to spilled drinks that patrons habitually took with them from the adjoining pub. Two solutions were developed, one simple, the other ambitious: “The simple solution was to instruct bussers and servers to mop up spills as quickly as possible,” says Ekberg-Daly. “The slightly more ambitious solution was to install a surface upon the perimeter railing of our dance floor on which patrons could rest their drinks.”
4. Consider switching from glass to plastic.
Modern materials and design can prevent problems without sacrificing style. In order to minimize potential accidents due to broken beverage glasses, think of replacing your glassware with attractive, durable, washable plastic containers. That's what the Olsons did after a trip to Las Vegas, where they saw how many clubs there had seamlessly made the switch.
5. Review staff uniforms and footwear.
Loosely fitted uniforms that can catch on furniture or footwear with inappropriate heels or soles can easily contribute to slips and falls. Many safety products for the hospitality sector can be found online to suit varying needs and budgets. To reduce slippages for the Strathcona's kitchen staff, the Olsons subsidized the purchase of footwear from Shoes for Crews, which manufactures the world’s top-rated slip-resistant outsole. “We also invested in non-slip kitchen floor tiles,” says Ekberg-Daly.
6. Encourage overall physical fitness.
Staff maintaining themselves in good shape are less likely to stumble unexpectedly or comport themselves in a careless manner. To that end, the Olsons subsidize gymnasium passes for their staff in the belief that physical fitness helps enhance workplace safety.
For more industry-specific health and safety resources, visit the occupational health & safety section of go2's website.
