Legal advice: Minimise risks over festive deliveries
THE BUSIEST time of the year for the hospitality trade is almost upon us and all publicans will be gearing up for increased trade in both wet and food sales.
Increased sales will inevitably mean more stock has to be ordered and stored to cope with the demand from customers.
But very few premises are designed with enough storage space so people often make do and take risks with deliveries and storage.
No business needs a major accident with staff or customer injuries and the subsequent investigations over the Christmas period. Besides the trauma caused to the individual, it will detract from the business of providing a good time for your customers and making money.
Local authority environmental health officers have been targeting many pub businesses with 'topic-specific inspections' in a programme called Moving Goods Safely - and there is every likelihood that these inspections will increase in the run-up to Christmas.
So, to ensure that you are prepared for an inspection and to be properly organised for efficient and safe stock deliveries and controls, consider and act on the following:
Deliveries of barrels, boxes etc
• use lifting aids wherever possible - sack trolleys, flat bed trolleys, hoists
• decant items to reduce weights
• roll barrels - do not lift them. Or use a barrel trolley
• do not free fall barrels down cellar openings
• don't obstruct entrances or exits
• carry items within your capability.
Storage
• store crates no more than five high
• don't obstruct passageways.
• try to keep a foot width between rows of stock to make getting at it easier
• ensure any loads are stable
• put most frequently used items at the front of the stack
• do not clamber over stock to reach other items.
Deliveries using roll cages
• only move one roll cage at a time
• use handles or straps
• whenever possible, push a roll cage rather than pull it
• move the roll cage no faster than walking speed
• get help to move roll cages if the route is awkward
• clear the delivery route of obstructions
• check that stock is up to but not over the load line
• decant roll cages whenever possible to reduce the weight which has to be pushed
• talk to your supplier to ensure that heavier items are stacked at the bottom of the cage.
A simple approach? The three Ps
• plan for deliveries and storage
• prepare: make room for stock, clear delivery routes
• practice health and safety.
Remember risk assessmentsYou should have site-specific delivery route and stock storage risk assessments which cover the increased hazards of extra merchandise coming into the premises over the Christmas period.
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Pat Perry is executive chairman of Perry Scott Nash Associates, an environmental health consultancy specialising in health & safety, food safety, fire safety, disability discrimination and other legal compliance issues. It has a wide client base in the hospitality industry and can help with audits, policies, enforcement and legal issues, special projects, trading standards etc.
Contact Perry Scott Nash on 01438 745771, email info@perryscottnash.co.uk or online at the address in the right hand column.
