Want to save thousands – maybe even millions – of dollars? . . . The first step is to ensure that your restaurant, bar or food service establishment is on its way to an injury-free zone by calling Restaurant Consultant – and America's Most Visible Restaurant Expert Witness – Howard Cannon.
So Why do you need Restaurant Safety Coaching by Restaurant Expert Witness for your restaurant or bar?
Because, having provided expert witness services and litigation support for well over 100 cases involving restaurants and bars, as well as having one of the most successful restaurant consulting firms in the country, Restaurant Expert Witness – Howard Cannon has seen it all; and, he knows from experience that just one little "slip up" can end up costing restaurant owners and operators tens of thousands, if not millions, of dollars. He also knows that most restaurant accidents and injuries are preventable. Yet, the number of incidents that occur are still higher than they should be – accounting for nearly 6.3% of all time-loss claims (a claim for time lost due to an injury that results in a short-term disability, a long-term disability, or a fatality).
Many restaurant operators are simply unaware of the statistics pertaining to accidents that take place in this country's restaurants, bars, and food service facilities. Although patrons frequent restaurants and bars for comfort, convenience, enjoyment, and celebration, the reality is that they are still worksites with potential hazards and accidents for employees and guests alike.
Younger workers are more prone to slip-and-fall accidents than older workers; costs per claim are highest among older workers.
These injuries can result in costly medical treatments and lengthy recovery efforts. Not only are the victims negatively impacted but their family and loved ones as well. When these injuries happen, the restaurants, bars and food service establishments in which they occur may be found responsible and can be held accountable for possible negligence and/or failure to provide a safe environment for their employees and guests — as is required by OSHA (Occupation Safety & Health Association).
Culture of Safety and Awareness in Restaurants & Bars . . . So how costly is it?
These medical and legal costs are increasing at a rate of about 10-percent each year.
Restaurant Operators must remember that costs of accidents and injuries for employees and guests can not only be devastating for those who are injured but can be financially insurmountable for the restaurant and bar establishments in which they occur. Amongst other things, costs can include high insurance premiums, attorneys fees, costly legal ramifications, hiring replacement workers, overtime, and retraining. Whether you are in the startup phase of your restaurant or you've already been in business for years, there is no better time than today to make sure that your restaurant policies, practices, and procedures are up to standard.
Safety awareness in restaurants and bars must first begin with the owners and managers who, then, must create a "culture of safety" — promoting safety awareness to each and every employee and making sure that every employee understands what it means to work safely. The best way to create a culture of safety and awareness is to practice "what-if" scenarios.
In order to address risks properly and ultimately improve safety for employees and guests, it is crucial for decision-makers to make preventative safety a priority in restaurants and bars. Making sure that all employees are concerned with safety awareness can often be a difficult task. It is everyone's job to work safely and efficiently; but, it is the owner, operator and/or manager's job to make sure all employees understand what working safely means. Studies show a direct correlation between a high-level of safety training and awareness and lower numbers of accidents and injuries.
It is true that the most important things in our lives happen in restaurants and in conjunction with a meal; things like family reunions, holidays, first dates, birthdays, anniversaries and important meetings. In fact, there is still no better way to bond relationships, learn life's lessons, or enjoy idle chit-chat with a dear friend than to sit down at a table and break bread. Whether it is fast or fine, casual or convenient, what we eat and who we choose to share our meal occasions with is deeply personal. Restaurant experiences impact us all, and in ways that nothing else does.
The astronomical number of restaurants (close to one million), the more than 13 million restaurant employees, and the unreal number of restaurant vendors providing an ever-growing number of products and services is truly staggering; but, it's not just about the giant size of the industry, it's really more about the everlasting impact that restaurants play in each and every one of our lives. Restaurants were the world's first "social networking" and continue to be the place where real life experiences play out for us all.
Don't Wait 'Til Later, Call Me Now . . .
Take the first step in making sure that your restaurant, bar or food service establishment continues to play a role in providing a safe environment to celebrate life . . . before YOU get involved in a lawsuit.