to inspect and monitor slip and trip hazards. Designate a team or individual responsible for doing a periodic inspection. 2. Establish a footwear program. Depending on what workers are doing and what types of surfaces they are working on, you can designate safety footwear for employees. Establishing an official program where employers share in the cost of the footwear or purchase them for employees will ensure compliance. 3. Specify flooring with a higher level of slip resistance or friction coefficient. Business owners should consider slip and fall prevention when building a new facility or making modifications to existing venues. Some flooring types provide more slip resistance than others. Visit the National Floor Safety Institute for more information. Final Step: Establish a return to work program. Regardless of the workplace injury, establish a well-
thought-out return to work program to minimize employer costs and keep employees mentally and physically acclimated to the work environment, even in a modified capacity. When the insurance carrier pays the employees wages for a prolonged period of time, it negatively affects the cost of insurance for employers. Robert Fiorito, serves as Vice President, HUB International Northeast., where he specializes in providing insurance brokerage services to the restaurant industry. As a 20-year veteran and former restaurateur himself, Bob has worked with a wide array of restaurant and food service businesses, ranging from fast-food chains to upscale, “white tablecloth" dining establishments. For more information, please visit www.hubfiorito.com
57 • August 2015 • Total Food Service • www.totalfood.com