General Employer Responsibilities
The federal Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) imposes a number of general requirements upon restaurant
employers regarding basic safety and sanitation. OSHA generally requires that restaurant
employers:
- Keep the workplace clean, orderly,
and in a sanitary condition.
- Keep all floors clean and dry. Wet
surfaces, in addition to being slip hazards, can promote the growth of mold,
fungi, and bacteria that can cause infections.
- Keep aisles and passageways in good
repair, with no obstruction across or in aisles that could create a hazard. For
example, provide floor plugs for equipment, so that power cords need not run
across pathways.
- Provide warning signs for wet floor
areas.
- Keep exits free from obstruction.
Access to exits must remain clear of obstruction at all times.
OSHA also recommends
that restaurant employers implement the following additional safety practices.
These practices regarding floor surfaces, illumination, and passageways include
the following: