Health and safety training is integral to the hospitality and catering industries. Working in the hospitality industry features a diverse array of potential risks and hazards, from handling food, equipment and chemicals safely to ensuring fire safety. Employees must undergo adequate training to ensure their safety and that of other employees and the public. Read our guide to learn more about the importance of health and safety in the hospitality industry and the types of training required.
The hospitality sector employs around 1.8 million people in the UK and, pre-pandemic, generated £59.3 million of economic output. As a key contributor to the UK economy, it is vital to understand the importance of health and safety in the hospitality industry.
Workers in hospitality organisations such as restaurants, cafés, theme parks, events and lodging can be exposed to numerous risks and hazards. Some organisations and sectors will need to implement mandatory training for any employee potentially exposed to risks, regardless of age or if they’re part-time, full-time or contract workers.
While the industry has one of the highest employee turnover rates (30% − double the UK average), each employee should have access to the relevant training to carry out their tasks safely. Health and safety regulations also apply for workers who may not spend all their time on site.
Mandatory training for hospitality employees
Employers must conduct risk assessments to identify fire, health and safety risks across premises and job roles. Health and safety training for employees is a legal obligation. All employees must have access to regular training to ensure their wellbeing in the workplace and in light of the outcomes of your risk assessments.
Health and safety training
All industries and organisations must complete general health and safety training in line with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, such as our Health and Safety Awareness eLearning course. It aims to create an awareness of general health and safety, responsibilities and how to identify risks and report them. All employees within an organisation must undertake this training.
Fire awareness and fire marshal training
Fire safety in the hospitality industry is vital, with the Fire and Rescue Services attending 174 hotel fires in 2020/21. Even if your employees don’t work directly with fire or fire-related hazards, fire awareness and fire marshall training are a legal requirement under The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005.
Our Praxis42 Fire Safety Training eLearning course provides all employees, including management, a thorough understanding of the causes of fire, the importance of raising alarms and awareness of risks. Our Fire Marshal Training eLearning course is for appointed wardens within an organisation to learn more about their role as fire marshal and their responsibilities.
Food safety and food allergy awareness training
Under the Food Safety Act 1990, employees who cook, prepare or handle food must be trained in food safety and hygiene. It’s your duty as an employer to minimise food-related risks for employees and members of the public.
Employees must also be trained in Food Allergy Awareness under The Food Information Regulations 2014 to avoid risks with allergens and correctly identify and label allergens on menus and food packaging for consumers.
Manual handling training
Under the Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992, all employees in hospitality industries must receive Manual Handling Training, such as our Praxis42 Manual Handling Awareness eLearning course. Employers must train employees to avoid or reduce risk from manual handling and understand the hazards involved.
Other recommended health and safety training in catering and hospitality
Promoting a positive health and safety culture within the workplace is essential for raising employee awareness and minimising risk. Encouraging and implementing additional employee training can help create a safer environment.
While not mandatory, recommended training courses for those working in the catering and hospitality include:
- Slips, Trips and Falls – The HSE have reported that slips, trips and falls are the most common workplace accidents, accounting for 33% of all accidents. In the hospitality and catering industry, these types of accidents may be common due to risks in kitchens/restaurants.
- COSHH – Hospitality works may deal with hazardous chemicals, such as cleaning products, which can pose a risk if not handled properly. Control of Substances Hazardous to Health training enables employees to use hazardous products carefully, minimising risk to themselves and others.
- Physical and Verbal Abuse, Bullying and Harassment – With the hospitality industry facing some of the worst abuse, training employees in physical and verbal abuse, bullying and harassment can help them recognise the signs of harassment and take steps to reduce the risk of physical or mental harm.
- Stress Awareness Training for Employees – Work can be stressful, especially in hospitality and catering. Stress training can help employees identify signs of stress and how to deal with it. Our Stress Awareness Training for Managers also aims to train managers to recognise the signs and symptoms of stress and understand effective stress management.
- Anti-bribery Training – Working with clients and suppliers may bring risks surrounding bribery. Anti-bribery training aims to educate employees on spotting the signs of bribery within the workplace and how to report it.
Importance of health and safety training in the hospitality industry
Training is an essential part of any employment. Ensuring high-quality and suitable training that is consistent can be difficult, but our SHINE Learning Management System can help. Our eLearning training courses and SHINE platform enable flexible management of employee training.
With SHINE, you can scale and share training courses, track employee progress and marks, and produce real-time reports. As for employees, they can complete training from the comfort of their own homes and in their own time, making it easier and more enjoyable to train.
SHINE is an efficient and easy way to monitor workforce training and follow legal legislation covering training requirements. It allows you to ensure individuals are getting the correct training, helping to ensure your organisation is trained consistently across all roles. For hospitality industries, this means employees work to the same standard, helping to create a better and safer working environment.
