Safety behind the bar

A bar is a wonderful place to work at. It can also be a dangerous place. You can hurt yourself in more than 1 way.
The most common ways for bartenders to get injured:

• Hurting back or knees by slipping on wet floors

• Cuts on hands and fingers by on knives

• Cuts on hands and fingers through sharp iron edges

• Cuts on hand and fingers by broken glass

• Twisting knee or ankles by stepping on small objects or steps

• Cuts in feet because of shards of glass on the floor

Most injuries can easily be prevented be cleaning and communication.
If a glass breaks behind the bar it is a big problem. It creates a big safety hazard for the bartender who can cut their hand, fingers or feet. Also there is always risk of glass shards getting into a drinks of a customer. If they would swallow a shard of glass there is no end to the probable drama following.
Broken glass behind the bar should always be properly removed and the area cleansed completely. If there is even a slight chance of broken glass in your ice bin, throw away all ice and rinse the ice bin thoroughly while taking care to not cut yourself on leftover pieces of glass.

Knives and other sharp bar-tools should always be kept in a safe place where you can not accidentally grab the blade while working. Do not leave it unattended on a cutting board as well. Do not run and when walking with a knife you always keep it straight down next your upper leg. If by any chance a knife falls down, never attempt to catch it. Step aside quickly and let it drop on the floor.

Do not place any objects on the floor in an area where the bartender works and moves. Usually the bartender will move on auto-pilot and knows the bar like this back pocket. Any unexpected object might cause serious injuries.

If your bar does not have proper floor tiles or –mats, the floor might get slippery from liquids, fruits, dirt, etc. When you experience the floor getting slippery take a moment to clean and dry the workspace, no matter how busy you are.

Personal note:

Many times the owner or manager wants turnover as fast as possible. No time to stop making drinks and money. I have to disagree with this. Sure the bartenders need to make money, but they will only cost money when sitting injured at home. Please take proper care of yourself as a bartender. Wear strong and good shoes and clean properly if you feel any situation might become a hazard. Remember kids: safety first!

Sincerely,

Den The Man