Food and Beverage Industries
Resources and information for restaurants, breweries, wineries, coffee shops and more
Examples of safety and health hazards that can harm workers in the restaurant, food and beverage industries include:
- Biological hazards including bloodborne pathogens
- Compressed gasses
- Hazardous chemicals and cleaners
- Hot and cold temperatures
- Knives and other sharp objects
- Slips, trips, and falls
- Strains and sprains
- Workplace violence.
Rules
- Chemical Hazard Communication (WAC 296-901)
- General Safety and Health Standards: Compressed Gas (WAC 296-24-920 through 94003)
- Safety & Health Core Rules WAC 296-800, Chapter
Enforcement Policies
- Emergency Washing Facilities (DOSH Directive 13.00)
- Hand Protection When Using Knives in Food Preparation (DOSH Directive 5.96)
- Personal Protective Equipment (DOSH Directive 5.15)
- Violence in the Workplace (DOSH Directive 5.05)
Chemicals and Compressed Gas Hazards
- Aerosol Cooking Products Can Explode (L&I Hazard Bulletin)
- Coffee Processing and Lung Disease (Hazard Bulletin) - December, 2016
- Coffee Stand Owner Dies When Leak from Propane Cylinder Causes a Fire (L&I Washington Fatality Assessment & Control Evaluation)
- Dry Ice and Liquid Nitrogen Can Cause Injuries or Death (Hazard Alert)
- El hielo seco y el nitrógeno líquido pueden causar lesiones o la muerte (Alertas de peligro)
- Understanding Carbon Dioxide Hazards in Food and Beverage Industry (Compressed Gas Association)
Cold and Hot Temperature Safety
- Dangers of working around hot oil fryers (Hazard Alert)
- Riesgos cuando se trabaja con freidoras con aceite caliente (Alertas de peligro)
- Ten Steps for Avoiding Burns (Poster. L&I and Washington Restaurant Association)
Employee Training Resources
- Hospitality Workplace Safety Training Orientation & Training Guide (Washington Restaurant Association)
- Injury Prevention in Restaurants and Kitchens (L&I PowerPoint)
General Industry Safety
- Cal/OSHA Guide to Restaurant Safety (Spanish)
- Restaurant Employee Safety Orientation Checklist (Washington Restaurant Association Foundation and L&I)
- Restaurant Hazards - Hazard Alert (Oregon OSHA)
- Restaurant Industry APP
- Restaurant Industry APP Spanish
- Restaurant Safety (Oregon OSHA webpage and resources)
Knives and Kitchen Equipment
- Bacon Meat Slicer (L&I Hazard Alert)
- Ten Safe Handling Hints for Knives (L&I Poster)
Slips, Trips, and Falls
- Preventing Slips and Falls (Poster. L&I and Washington Restaurant Association)
Teen Safety
- Employing Teens Under 18 in Food Service (L&I Fact Sheet)
- Young Worker Safety in Restaurants (OSHA eTool)
Workplace Violence
- Workplace Violence (OSHA)