Hospitality & Entertainment Industry sectors• Hotel and Accommodation services• Food and Beverage Service Activities• Convention, Trade show, Concert and other Event Organisers• Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Industry

Common Hazards in the Hospitality & Entertainment Industry

Common Hazards

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Date of training

Hospitality & Entertainment Industry

Contents

1. Workplace Safety and Health (WSH) Policy2. WSH Rules and Regulations3. Common hazards in our workplace

• Slips, trips and falls• Fall from heights• Struck by falling object• Cut by object• Exposure to extreme

temperatures• Fires and explosions

• Exposure to electrical current• Exposure to harmful

chemicals• Workplace aggression• Fatigue• Noise-induced deafness

1. Workplace Safety & Health (WSH) Policy

Insert your company’s WSH Policy here

Please insert your company’s own WSH rules and regulations here

1. Follow all safe work procedures2. Report all unsafe work conditions and work practices to

your supervisor or Safety Officer3. …4. …5. …6. …7. …8. …

2. WSH Rules and Regulations

3. Common hazards in our workplace

• Slips, trips and falls• Fall from heights• Struck by falling object• Cut by object• Exposure to extreme

temperatures• Fires and explosions

• Exposure to electrical current• Exposure to harmful

chemicals• Workplace aggression• Fatigue• Noise-induced deafness

Highlight the more common hazards in your company here (optional)

Slips, Trips and Falls

Slips, Trips and Falls is a frequently occurring accident type, leading to minor injuries (sprains, bruises) as well as major injuries (fractures, head injuries).

Insert pictures of obstructed walkway,

spills or warning signs

DO Practice good housekeeping daily Wear anti-slip shoes if floor is usually slippery Report any damaged flooring Put up warning signs for:

wet floors raised flooring damaged flooring

Slips, Trips and Falls

Case study: Staff was cleaning glasses at the dish

washing area in a restaurant kitchen When lifting a tray of glasses, he

slipped on the wet floor and fell His neck was cut by broken glass and

he bled to death

Dish washing area

Lesson learnt: Wear anti-slip shoes during work Use a trolley to transport fragile items between locations Practice housekeeping to keep workspace free of clutter

Fall from heightsFall from heights is one of the leading accident types. Accidents and near-misses often involve the improper use of ladders.

DO Wear proper footwear Use the correct ladder for the job Keep 3 points of contact with the ladder at all times Set up a barrier around the ladder during work

(e.g. set up a barrier 2m around a 2m tall ladder)

DO NOT Use the ladder on uneven ground

Fall from heightsA scaffold / platform is recommended to provide better access and also a more stable platform to work on.

DO Ensure the scaffold/platform has been inspected by a licensed inspector before use.

Only set up on level and stable ground Fully extend outriggers to enhance stability Wear helmet, safety harness with lanyard & safety shoes

DO NOT Overload the scaffold / platform

Fall from heights

Case study: Staff was conducting inspections

above the false ceiling of a hotel walkway

He stepped on a weaker support that gave way

Lesson learnt: Use a tower scaffold to access the work area above the false

ceiling.

3.2m

He fell through the ceiling to the ground and fractured his pelvis

Struck by falling object

Getting struck by falling objects can lead to head injuries and even death. It commonly occurs in storage facilities with racking / shelving systems.

DO Store loose small or irregularly-shaped items in boxes Store heavier items on lower levels of a shelf Store frequently used items at waist or chest level Secure bars or straps across the shelf to keep items

from falling off

DO NOT Overload the storage shelves

Struck by falling object

Case study: A worker was tasked to fix ceiling lights in a

warehouse for dried food He was standing near a rack of sugar A co-worker heard a loud crash and found the

worker crushed under 6,000 kg of sugar The shelving was found to be old and rusty

Lesson learnt: Store heavier items on the ground or lower layers Report any defects of the shelves to your supervisor

Cut by objectCuts may occur when working with sharp tools and handling broken glass or ceramics.

DO Wear cut-resistant gloves Use the correct tool Work on stable flat surfaces Cut in a direction away from yourself Wash & store sharp tools separately from other tools Maintain tools to keep them sharp Wrap up sharp objects before disposing them Label trash that contain sharp objects

DO NOT Use blunt cutting tools

Cut by object

Lesson learnt: Wear wire mesh gloves when using cutting tools Sharpen tool regularly so less force is needed when cutting Replace manual cutting work with machines where possible

Case study: Staff was using a cleaver to cut chicken into pieces He used his left hand to hold the meat and right hand to chop While chopping, left hand slid into the path of the cleaver The tips of his index and middle fingers were cut off

Cut by object

Machines (e.g. food processors) should be equipped with guards, and training is required before operating them. Regular maintenance helps prevent accidents due to faulty machinery.

DO Tie up long hair and wear hairnets Switch off and unplug machine when not in use

DO NOT Wear loose clothing with long sleeves Wear jewellery when using a machine Repair faulty machines if not qualified to do so Repair or clean machines when it is running

Cut by object

Case study: Staff was using a meat-mincing machine during work While the machine was still running, she used her hand to

remove meat that was stuck inside Her thumb and index finger were severed Her toe was used to create a new thumb Skin from her leg was used to patch the open wound

Cut by object

Lesson learnt: Lock machine guard in place when using machine Switch off and unplug machine before cleaning or servicing Use a proper tool (e.g. tongs) to remove anything stuck in

the machine

Exposure to extreme temperaturesWorking in an extremely hot or cold environment can cause stress to our bodies. Symptoms include dizziness, nausea and fatigue.

DO Wear clothing suitable for the work environment Wear anti-slip shoes when floor is slippery (cold env.) Switch on fans (hot env.) Take regular breaks and drink plenty of water Get help and stop work when feeling unwell

DO NOT Work alone

Exposure to extreme temperatures

Improper handling of hot objects / liquids can cause burns or scalds, which happen frequently in kitchens.

DO Wear heat resistant protective gloves / sleeves Use tools to handle hot objects (e.g. tray grips) Pour hot liquids slowly to avoid splashing Keep liquid levels in containers low to avoid spilling Place warning labels/signs on hot objects Pay attention to these warning signs

DO NOT Place hot objects near the edge of work stations Open cookers when they are under pressure

Exposure to extreme temperatures

Case study: Staff was using a mushroom press

machine to iron clothes Top arm of machine suddenly came

down on her arm and burnt it Machine controls were found to be faulty

Lesson learnt: Wear heat-resistant sleeves Maintain machines on a timely schedule Isolate machines that are suspected to be

faulty

Fires and explosions

Common causes of fire and explosions are improper storage, accumulation of flammable materials, or faulty electrical installations, most frequently in kitchens.

Insert pictures of pot handles on stove, or flammable materials

DO Turn off electrical power / gas flames when not in use Keep work area free of flammable liquid and powder Clean the exhaust hood and stove top regularly Keep power sockets clean and dry

DO NOT Leave a flame unattended Store flammable items close to a heat source

Fires and explosions

Case study: Staff was trying to light up gas oven Oven suddenly exploded and the doors blew open The staff was struck on his head by one of the doors Gas had likely built up in the oven when staff was trying

to light it

Lesson learnt: Avoid leaving the gas valve open for more than 5 seconds Do not leave ovens unattended when it is operating Ventilate the oven adequately between attempts to light it

Exposure to electrical current

Working with electrical equipment carries a risk of electrocution, burns and even death.

DO Report any damaged wiring found Replace/isolate the damaged equipment Switch off and unplug equipment when not in use Put electrical cords away neatly Keep cords, sockets and the area around clean

DO NOT Overload an electrical point Use damaged electrical equipment Repair damaged equipment if not qualified to do so

Exposure to electrical currentCase study: Staff was operating an electronic cash

register in a night club She touched the power plug and suffered

electrical burns on her hand Power plug was found to be broken Sticky tape was used to secure plug to socket Live wiring inside the plug was exposed

Lesson learnt: Visually inspect equipment & electrical

installations before use Report any equipment found with defective

parts

Exposure to harmful chemicals

The chemicals used at work can be harmful to our health. Inhaling the vapours and regular contact with these chemicals can lead to breathing and skin problems.

DO Read the label and understand the safety precautions Ensure storage containers are in good condition Open windows and doors when using chemicals Switch on fans and exhaust ventilators if available Wear chemical resistant gloves Close containers tightly immediately after use

DO NOT Use chemicals that you cannot identify Store incompatible chemicals together

Exposure to harmful chemicals

Case study: Plumber was using a chemical to unclog a drain in a hotel Some of the chemical spilled onto his trousers It caused extensive chemical burns to his legs Plumber did not know that the chemical was corrosive Employer did not train their staff on chemical safety

Lesson learnt: All staff should be trained before handling chemicals Staff should voice out he was unfamiliar with the chemical Staff should have put on chemical resistant gloves & apron

Aggression

Aggression is hostile and violent behaviour that ranges from verbal to physical abuse. This is commonly experienced by staff in the service sector and may also occur between co-workers.

DO Handle the situation in the presence of others Talk calmly, stay objective and acknowledge the

aggressor’s distress Keep a distance/barrier between aggressor & you

DO NOT Raise your voice in response Attempt to resolve a conflict alone

Fatigue

Fatigue includes physical and mental exhaustion. Once fatigued, you are more likely to be careless and prone to making mistakes. This will increase your chances of getting injured at work.

DO Keep workplace brightly lit and well ventilated Take regular breaks during long shifts

Signs of fatigue: Frequent yawning Difficulty paying attention Slower working speed Dozing off at work

Fatigue

Lesson learnt: Follow basic safe practices for your work activity Do not skip breaks scheduled by the company

Case study: A delivery man was driving his truck during the night shift At 5am, he did not take his compulsory break for the shift While driving, he crashed into another vehicle He was thrown out of his vehicle and fractured his skull It was found that he did not use the seat belt

Noise-induced deafness

Frequent and prolonged exposure to loud sounds during work can cause permanent hearing loss. Hearing loss can lead to increase risks of getting into an accident.

DO Wear ear plugs/muffs properly Take breaks in quiet places Rotate noisy work with colleagues Maintain your hearing protectors

DO NOT Use hearing protectors that are damaged or in poor condition

Noise-induced deafnessExposure limit

(without protective gear) dB(A) Examples

60 conversation70 shower75 toilet flushing80 alarm clock

8 hr 85 passing truck2 hr 31 min 90 food processor

48 min 95 food processor15 min 100 motorcycle (riding)

5 min 105 event speakers1.5 min 110 rock band

28 sec 115 ambulance siren120 thunder125 balloon popping

Use ear plugs

Use ear plugs and ear muffs

Noise-induced deafness

Case study: Worker was crossing a vehicle

lane while looking in the another direction

A vehicle was travelling along the same lane and the driver was also looking away

Both the driver and worker failed to notice each other

Worker was suffering from noise-induced deafness He did not hear the vehicle approaching and was run over

vehicle

Overview of accident site

Direction of travel Direction of sight

worker

END