WorkSafe Tasmania

WorkSafe Tasmania

Safe and well every day

Accommodation and Food Services

This industry covers groups such as:

  • hotels and clubs
  • cafes and restaurants
  • takeaway food
  • music and entertainment.

Accommodation and food services is one of the industries identified as a national priority for prevention activities in the Australian Work Health and Safety Strategy.

Occupations in this industry include:

  • food preparation and customer service
  • cleaning and room service
  • security and crowd control
  • sound and lighting technicians.

Common hazards and injuries

Workers in this industry are likely to be injured at work due to:

  • body stressing caused by hazardous manual tasks
  • slips, trips and falls
  • mental stress
  • electric shock.

Common hazards that workers in this industry are exposed to include:

  • knives
  • lifting heaving objects
  • workplace bullying
  • fatigue
  • shiftwork
  • transporting cash
  • noise (for example, in concert venues).

There are usually lots of young workers in this industry. For many it is their first job, so you should think about the training and supervision they will need to do their job safely.

Some solutions

  • Good quality anti-fatigue and anti-slip flooring in your food preparation areas and behind bars will reduce the risk of falls, and make work more comfortable for your workers who stand for long periods.
  • It’s hard to avoid the use of knives in food preparation. In some circumstances, cut-resistant gloves can be used to add some protection.
  • Cleaners frequently suffer electric shocks from damaged cords on vacuum cleaners. Make sure you have a testing and tagging program, and encourage workers to promptly report any damage so it can be repaired.
  • Workers servicing accommodation areas frequently suffer muscular injuries from moving heavy furniture. Use a buddy system and set realistic servicing targets; a little extra time taken can pay off in reduced injuries.

WorkSafe Tasmania resources

Bullying

Fatigue

Hazardous manual tasks

Industry snapshots

Managing noise and preventing hearing loss at work code of practice

Mental health hazards

New and young workers

Psychosocial hazards

Slips trips and falls

Other resources

Cash in Transit guidance: Safe Work Australia

Dangers in your workplace: Falls from one level to another: WorkCover Queensland

Managing health and safety in food retail: WorkSafe Victoria

Occupational violence and aggression: WorkSafe Victoria 

Working in heat: Not just an outdoor problem (video): Safe Work Australia

Last updated: 24 August 2023
my favourites