Orlando, Fla.—You finally setup the perfect place, and customers are raving about your culinary offer and service. For us in Florida it is easy to create a relax atmosphere with breathtaking views to the ocean, lakes or many other attractions.
At this point, most of us would not even think about the many ways a business, which includes a kitchen, has to generate injuries to staff. Also, customers can get injured from hot food, but there are other perils to be concerned about.
As much as many other business owners fight theft, shoplifting, vandalism, accidents— restaurant owners need to deal with those issues, plus altercations and incidents that include robberies, loud arguments and physical violence.
Effective incident management procedures include taking the following steps:
- Move the injured party(ies) to a private area to determine the urgency and protocol.
- If the victim is unconscious or debilitated do not hesitate calling 911.
- Inspect the area where the injury happened, and take detailed notes, photos or videos to document conditions.
- Do not assign or admit liability, but determine the facts and obtain phone numbers and addresses of potential witnesses of the accident. Include employees.
- Always have a first aid kit available to treat minor injuries.
- Restaurants that have video surveillance should secure any corroborating video.
Although we all know that people aren’t always happy, and some may be having a bad day when they come to your place, restaurateurs know complaints are part of their business dynamic, and a customer’s negative word of mouth can do much damage to your restaurant’s reputation. For that reason, it is of utmost importance to manage the situation in a sensible manner, so that the affected parties feel well taken care of. Training and creating manuals for a comprehensive customer service strategy can be key to the success of your business. While most new hires — especially those with experience — are coming from within the restaurant industry, it’s clear that employees may not see the same distinctions managers or owners do in terms of restaurant style and customer service.
On the other hand, it is also important to have Plan A, Plan B, and even Plan C — for when things don’t work our way.
Basic insurance for restaurants
Business Owners Policy (BOP): Packages commercial property and liability coverage into one policy. This is a very common insurance strategy for restaurants.
Workers’ Compensation: Protects if your employees become injured or ill while at work. It agrees to pay the benefits required under the Florida workers’ compensation law, including medical costs and lost wages (up to statutory limits).
General Liability: A fundamental coverage that protects restaurants against lawsuits and other financial liabilities resulting from accidents or other mishaps. This includes things like food illness, and customer slips and falls.
Other coverages restaurants might need
Commercial Auto: Typically needed if you have a vehicle used for deliveries or other business use.
Food Trucks also need to protect its contents, like stoves, food, computer equipment, and others. You’ll need a commercial property insurance policy.
For free quotes, contact us at (321) 206-8035.
Yaralyn Diaz, CSR
Commercial Lines CSR
