Health and Safety
Executive
Example risk assessment for a pub
Setting the scene
How was the risk assessment done?
The manager carried out the risk assessment in this
pub, which is located in a suburban, residential area.
The manager followed the guidance in Five steps to risk
assessment ([Link]/pubns/[Link]).
This risk assessment only addresses liquid sales; a
separate example covers the occupational health and
safety aspects for food preparation: [Link]/
risk/casestudies/[Link]. (Also see [Link].
[Link]/catering/[Link].)
1 To identify the hazards, the manager:
The manager and his partner live on the premises,
they also employ eight other bar staff, four full-time
who work lunchtime and evening shifts, five-days
every week and four part-time staff at weekends and
providing absence cover for the full-time staff.
The pub has a function room with dance floor for
live-music events and discos with a bar. It is cleaned
every morning by a cleaner, the manager and his
partner cover when the cleaner is on holiday. The
manager buys cleaning products from the wholesaler
or from a rep who visits once a month.
The premises were built before 2000; the pub building
was surveyed for asbestos when it was acquired
by the owner. Asbestos-containing materials found
in the survey have been recorded, a copy of the
survey is kept at the pub and the owner holds a
duplicate copy. A further, more detailed, survey can
be arranged to send out to contractors when building
works need to be done.
Example risk assessment: Pub
looked at HSEs web pages for small businesses
[Link]/smallbusinesses/[Link], and for
the hospitality and catering industry [Link]/
catering/[Link], to learn where hazards can occur;
made clear who was responsible for what under the
terms of the tenancy agreement. This was especially
important for issues such as asbestos management, gas
safety, pressurised equipment, replacement of carpets;
walked around the pub, noting things that might be
dangerous and taking HSEs guidance into
consideration;
talked to the staff (including the cleaner) about their work
to learn from their knowledge and experience of areas
and activities, and to listen to their opinions about health
and safety issues in the workplace;
talked to his preferred suppliers of maintenance work,
to ensure that their activities did not pose a risk to pub
staff, and vice versa;
observed deliveries by his food and drink suppliers; and
looked at the accident book, to gain an understanding of
previous incidents.
2 The manager then wrote down who could be harmed by
the hazards and how.
Important reminder
This example risk assessment shows the kind
of approach a pub might take. Use it as a guide
to think through some of the hazards in your
business and the steps you need to take to control
the risks. Please note that it is not a generic risk
assessment that you can just put your company
name on and adopt wholesale without any thought.
This would not satisfy the law and would not be
effective in protecting people.
Every business is different you need to think
through the hazards and controls required in your
business for yourself.
3 For each hazard, the manager wrote down what
controls, if any, were in place to manage these hazards.
He then compared these controls to the good practice
guidance provided on the HSE website. Where existing
controls were not considered good enough, the
manager wrote down what else needed to be done to
control the risk.
4 Putting the risk assessment into practice, the manager
decided and recorded who was responsible for
implementing the actions identified as necessary and
when they should be done. When each action was
done, he ticked it off and noted the date. He also made
it part of the induction process for new staff.
5 At the staff meeting, the manager discussed the findings
of the risk assessment with staff and pinned up a copy
in the staffroom. He decided to review and update the
risk assessment every year, or straightaway if any major
changes in the workplace happened.
1 of 6 pages
Health and Safety
Executive
Company name: The Smiths Pub
Date of risk assessment: 28/11/08
What are the Who might be harmed What are you already doing?
hazards?
and how?
Slips, trips
and falls
Staff and customers
slipping/tripping/falling
suffering fractures and
bruising etc
Falls from
height
Staff may suffer
serious, possibly fatal,
injuries if they fall from
any height.
For example staff doing
cleaning/maintenance,
might fall from ladders.
Example risk assessment: Pub
What further action is necessary?
Action by whom?
Action by when?
Staff clean up spillages immediately using suitable methods and
leave the floor dry.
Bar floor areas only washed out of hours staff know about proper
use of detergents, correct detergent rates to avoid residue
wash, leave, rinse etc.
Good housekeeping work areas kept tidy, goods stored suitably
etc.
Drainage channels and drip trays provided where spills likely.
Equipment maintained to prevent leaks onto floor.
Good lighting in all areas including steps outside or access to
cellar areas.
Ensure door to cellar is kept locked and key controlled so only
authorised staff can get access.
Ensure stairways are not obstructed.
Carpets firmly secured.
Doormats for wet weather.
No trailing cables or obstructions in walkways.
Cable covers used for all electrical cables, especially when
hosting bands or DJs.
Repair damaged floor covering and
check carpet grips.
Manager with
landlord/Pub
managing company
12/12/08
(before Christmas
custom increases)
Ensure suitable footwear with good grip
worn by staff
Manager with
landlord/Pub
managing company
Before each shift
Put up Authorised Persons Only sign
on cellar door.
Manager with
landlord/Pub
managing company
5/12/08
Reiterate message to staff that cellar
door is to be locked when not needed
for access by authorised staff, staff to
report if cellar door left unlocked.
Manager with
landlord/Pub
managing company
Before next shift
Cellar hatches:
Check they have been closed after delivery.
Ensure other people are excluded from area while hatch open
and in use.
Ladders to be suitable, regularly inspected, and used only for light
work of short duration by trained staff.
All other work at height, such as above the roof light, is done by
contractors under a permit to work system and using trained staff
and appropriate equipment.
Speak with brewery about any
problems with pedestrians walking by
when pavement cellar hatches open
and agree if signs, barriers or staff
needed to direct pedestrians away from
danger area.
Manager
Immediately
Done
2 of 6 pages
Health and Safety
Executive
What are the Who might be harmed What are you already doing?
hazards?
and how?
Violence
Staff and customers
may suffer stress and/
or physical injuries
from aggressive
customers.
What further action is necessary?
Action by whom?
Action by when?
Keep good liaison with local police and
check latest advice.
Manager
Ongoing items
Manager to give talk to re-emphasise
coping with disputes training.
Manager
Training to be
carried out before
Christmas busy
period
Ensure all incidents promptly
investigated.
Manager
Staff adhere to legal requirement not to sell alcohol to intoxicated
customers.
Staff trained in good, polite behaviour and how to avoid
confrontation following violence policy when to call police etc.
Incident log kept and filled out as soon as possible after incident
Staff made aware of barred customers.
Information sharing scheme with police and other licensed
premises in the area member of local Pubwatch.
Regular glass collection glass policy implemented for very
busy events or as appropriate.
Gaming machines emptied after closing.
Cashing up done after hours/out of customers sight.
Consider if fitting panic alarm is
practicable and will be of benefit.
Manager to seek
advice of police/pub
company on best
panic alarm.
8/12/08
Transport
Staff may suffer serious
injuries if struck by
a vehicle, eg during
deliveries.
Reversing of vehicles to be supervised if other people in the area.
High-visibility waistcoat available.
Talk to the brewery, wholesaler and
other suppliers about agreeing safe
procedures for deliveries, to try to
eliminate reversing, or ensuring staff
available.
Manager
3/1/09
Manual
handling
Staff receiving back,
neck and limb injuries
from lifting heavy loads
(eg barrels), crates of
bottles etc
Behind the bar kegs/casks barrels rolled onto trolley and wheeled
around.
Staff training in rolling and stillaging casks.
Sack trucks and trolleys available for beer and bottle crates etc.
Staff training in lifting techniques and posture for items behind
the bar.
Consider siting and design of shelving
for items behind bar to eliminate
bending and reaching at next
refurbishment.
Manager
Next
refurbishment due
2010
Example risk assessment: Pub
Done
3 of 6 pages
Health and Safety
Executive
What are the Who might be harmed What are you already doing?
hazards?
and how?
Gas
C02 leakage
Pressurised
equipment
Staff and others risk
injury from fire and
explosion if equipment
not properly maintained
and used.
Staff may be overcome
when charging CO2
while changing
barrels and soft drinks
dispenser in cellar
Risk of explosion from
over-pressurisation of
beer pump systems,
or faulty or damaged
cylinders.
Pressurised systems:
designed, installed and maintained in line with BBPAs Code
of Practice 2006, installation certificate obtained (copy at pub,
owner holds original);
only trained staff manager, partner and named member of staff
who have undergone training to use the system;
cleaning containers suitable to accept systems maximum
pressure and labelled to avoid confusion over detergents and
flushing water;
system inspected by competent engineer every five years or to
schedule produced by the competent engineer;
certificate displayed stating date of next inspection; and
any damage reported immediately.
What further action is necessary?
Action by whom?
Action by when?
Boiler checked and serviced annually by a Gas Safe registered
engineer, see [Link]/gas/[Link].
Staff trained to recognise and report defects.
No further action at this stage.
Only staff trained by the brewery or pub company, manager,
partner and named staff member, change barrels.
Safe working practice, in line with BBPA guidance.
Cellar well ventilated with adequate, low-level, ventilation.
Put forward another full-time member
of staff for training to cover absences
and weekends.
Manager
3/1/09
Put forward another full-time member
of staff for training to cover absences.
Manager
3/1/09
Done
Gas cylinders:
only obtained from reputable suppliers;
numbers kept to absolute minimum;
moved and stored properly to prevent damage;
stored in cages, chained up or laid flat and chocked (with
suppliers agreement) away from heat sources, in a dry area with
the valves closed; and
used in an upright position in a safe, secure, dry place.
Example risk assessment: Pub
4 of 6 pages
Health and Safety
Executive
What are the Who might be harmed What are you already doing?
hazards?
and how?
Noise
Electricity
Staff suffering hearing
damage from live and
recorded music
Staff and customers
could get electric
shocks from faulty/
damaged wiring or
electrical equipment
Example risk assessment: Pub
Bands and DJs speakers located in function room and focused
on dance floor, away from seating areas and bars.
Staff allowed to take regular rest breaks in designated quiet area
to reduce noise exposure.
Wiring checked every five years by a qualified electrician.
Regular PAT done by electrician.
Staff trained to spot damaged equipment, plugs, cable and
fittings and take out of service.
Staff told where fuse box is to turn off electricity in the event of an
emergency.
Fuse box/consumer unit kept accessible at all times.
What further action is necessary?
Action by whom?
Action by when?
Educate staff about noise
and damage to hearing and
assess whether health surveillance
needed, establish if staff exposed
to high noise levels in personal life, eg
do they go clubbing?
Manager
Ongoing.
First talk by
8/12/08
Check volume levels and
consider need for volume
limiters.
Manager
8/12/08
Consider acoustic screening for
exposed bar areas.
Manager
Within 2 weeks of
establishing noise
levels
Make suitable ear plugs available for
staff collecting glasses and serving in
dance area, eg will staff still be able to
hear drinks orders at bar.
Manager
3/12/08
Check to see if fuse box has 30 mA
RCD protection.
Manager
8/12/08
RCD sockets and plugs to be fitted if
protection not at consumer unit.
Manager
1/6/09
Ensure induction talk for any new staff
or temporary staff includes how to turn
off the electricity.
Manager
8/12/08 (new
Christmas staff)
Speak to contractors to ensure that
they will only use low-voltage (yellow)
equipment.
Manager
By next work
planned for 2009
Done
5 of 6 pages
Health and Safety
Executive
What are the Who might be harmed What are you already doing?
hazards?
and how?
Hazardous
substances
Staff can suffer
chemical burns or
develop dermatitis from
contact with, or use of,
cleaning chemicals
Asbestoscontaining
materials
(ACMs)
found in
building
Staff and others
carrying out normal
activities at very low
risk as asbestos
only poses a risk if
fibres are released
into air and inhaled.
Maintenance workers
most at risk.
Fire
If trapped staff could
suffer from smoke
inhalation/burns
What further action is necessary?
Action by whom?
Action by when?
All products safety data sheets checked to see what gloves, eye
protection is necessary for use with the chemicals.
Chemicals used reviewed with reps/supplier every six months to
see if safer alternative available.
Staff told about skin care when washing glasses, handling
dishwasher chemicals etc.
Chemicals always kept in original labelled containers, any
containers for decanted chemicals clearly marked.
PPE gloves and eye protection available when using, decanting
or diluting chemicals.
Tell cleaning product rep they should
check for safer alternatives before next
visit.
Manager
3/1/09
Position of all ACMs surveyed Type 1 survey by professional as
no building works planned.
Position and condition of all ACMs marked, recorded and
explained to manager and staff.
Manager and deputy given advice/training by surveyor or
other provider about identifying ACMs and spotting signs of
deterioration.
Arrangements made with pub company for:
Type 2 survey, for when non-major, routine building
maintenance work; or
Type 3 survey when intrusive work planned.
Staff told to report any accidental damage immediately.
Reiterate to staff and contractors when
they visit that asbestos must not be
disturbed and to report immediately
any accidental damage to the insulating
boards.
Manager
Ongoing.
Next meeting
3/12/08
Fire risk assessment done, see [Link]/fire and
necessary action taken.
Manager/senior staff member checks fire exits are clear.
Staff to check outside smoking
area to check all smoking materials
extinguished after closing
Manager
Done
When contractors
confirm date for
February 2009
work
Immediately
Assessment review date: 28/11/09
Example risk assessment: Pub
Published by the Health and Safety Executive
6 of 6 pages
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