Health & Safety Support for Hospitality Businesses
Hospitality Moves Fast. Your Health & Safety Support Should Keep Up.
From independent restaurants and hotels to multi-site hospitality operators - practical, sector-specific health and safety support that understands the realities of a fast-paced, high-footfall environment.
The Regulatory Landscape
Hospitality businesses operate under a broad and demanding regulatory framework, covering everything from food safety and fire to manual handling and alcohol licensing. The key legislation includes:
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Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 - primary duty of care to all employees and members of the public
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Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 - risk assessment, competent person, and management arrangements
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Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 - fire risk assessment and ongoing compliance, particularly complex in premises with sleeping accommodation
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Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992 - kitchens, cellars, housekeeping, and delivery operations all carry significant manual handling risk
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Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) - cleaning products, kitchen chemicals, and cellar gases
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Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations 2013 (RIDDOR) - staff and public incidents
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Health and Safety (Display Screen Equipment) Regulations 1992 - relevant for office-based and management functions
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Licensing Act 2003 - H&S obligations connected to the Premises Licence and Designated Premises Supervisor responsibilities
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Local authority enforcement - environmental health officers regularly inspect hospitality premises and can issue improvement or prohibition notices
For larger operators and hotel groups, the expectation of demonstrable H&S management systems and regular audit evidence is increasingly built into brand standards, insurance requirements, and franchisor obligations.
The Challenges We See
Hospitality presents a distinct and demanding set of safety challenges that require a consultant who understands the environment:
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High staff turnover - creates a constant induction and training challenge; new staff are statistically at highest risk of injury in their first weeks
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Seasonal and temporary workforce - brings additional competency and oversight challenges that many operators struggle to manage consistently
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Kitchen hazards - knives, hot surfaces, wet floors, heavy lifting, and COSHH risks exist alongside time pressure and fatigue, creating a high-risk environment
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Public safety obligations - hospitality businesses have a duty of care not just to their staff but to customers and visitors, including those who may be intoxicated
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Fire safety complexity - premises with overnight accommodation, multiple floors, or commercial kitchens have significantly higher fire risk profiles and more demanding compliance requirements
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Cellar safety - CO2 and mixed gas systems present a serious and often underestimated risk, particularly in pubs and bars
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Lone working - early morning deliveries, late-night closing, and management checks often involve staff working alone in potentially vulnerable situations
How We Help
Retained Competent Person - providing your designated H&S expert, keeping you compliant with changing legislation and giving you a named advisor to call when something unexpected happens.
Audit & Site Inspection - operational health and safety audits tailored to hospitality premises, covering kitchen safety, fire compliance, manual handling, COSHH, and public safety. We understand what EHO inspectors look for - and what good looks like.
Fire Risk Assessments - premises-specific FRAs covering all areas including commercial kitchens, sleeping accommodation, cellars, and means of escape. Particularly important for licensed premises, hotels, and venues.
Risk Assessments & Documentation - kitchen COSHH assessments, manual handling assessments, lone working procedures, cellar safety documentation, and a full H&S policy - all written for your business specifically.
Staff Training - fire warden training, manual handling, health and safety induction, and toolbox talks covering hospitality-specific topics including allergen awareness, slips trips and falls, and safe cellar management.
Incident Investigation - independent investigation of staff injuries, customer incidents, and near misses, with RIDDOR support and recommendations to prevent recurrence.
Wellbeing & Stress Support - hospitality has some of the highest rates of work-related stress and mental health challenges of any sector. We help operators understand and manage the psychological risks their teams face.
Why Harlequins?
We have direct experience of health and safety management in hospitality environments - understanding the gap between what a risk assessment says and what actually happens during a busy Saturday service. Our audits are conducted with that operational knowledge behind them, which means the findings and recommendations reflect how your business actually works.
We also understand the commercial realities of hospitality. Proportionate advice, practical recommendations, and solutions that work with your team rather than against them — that's what we deliver.
