Safety Training and a Strong Safety Culture: The Recipe for Mitigating Restaurant Risk

Things began to change for the restaurant industry in 2023 as the script flipped from cutbacks to a growth mindset. Data from the National Restaurant Association’s 2023 State of the Restaurant Industry report revealed that nearly three in four operators were focused on sustaining growth. While the change in mindset is good news for the industry, expansion in this sector is hampered by staff turnover with a majority (62 percent) of restaurant owners reporting being understaffed. 

As the focus for restaurants continues to center on growing and staffing up, safety training can sometimes get lost in the mix or ratcheted down to cover only topics related to compliance with regulations.

That won’t cut it in an industry that faces major risks associated with employee injuries and food safety. Safety training and creating a culture of safety are both critical for mitigating these risks, helping restaurants establish environments that protect staff and customers, which also goes a long…