Outdoor dining quickly emerged as a way to keep restaurants operational during the COVID-19 pandemic and has remained a popular and attractive option. Temporary and permanent outdoor dining areas carry a unique set of risks for restaurant owners to consider. Offering outdoor dining without proper precautions and safety procedures poses risks for employees and customers, and it could lead to unforeseen legal complications.
No matter which outdoor dining structures your establishment uses—whether it’s tents, yurts, plastic pods, decks or patios—the primary concerns remain the same. The location of your outdoor dining area, fire hazards and severe weather are all serious risks to consider.
Location Concerns
First, it’s important to select an appropriate location for your outdoor dining area. Without a proper location, your outdoor dining operations could threaten the safety of customers, employees and passersby. As such, follow these location tips:
- Have your outdoor dining location approved by your local jurisdiction, which could be the fire department or the local building department.
- Ensure your outdoor dining area is away from passing traffic or anywhere people could be potentially struck. Visible barriers, wheel stops, and signs can be used to notify motorists of pedestrian traffic.
Slips, Trips and Falls
Pool-adjacent dining areas or those near a boat dock have increased chance of being wet, slippery and dangerous for pedestrians even before alcohol consumption is factored in. Properly sign high-risk areas. If outdoor dining areas have been expanded into places that weren’t previously established dining spaces, there may be an increased risk for slip, trip and fall accidents. This risk is especially true if the outdoor dining area is in part of the parking lot— where cracks and potholes can arise. Consider these slip, trip and fall prevention guidelines:
- Ensure there is good lighting in your outdoor dining space.
- Monitor regularly for standing water / wet surfaces that could cause slip and fall accidents and sign these areas as needed.
- Keep temporary cords and other trip hazards out of the way.
- Make sure your outdoor dining area stays organized and clear of clutter or other obstructions.
- Stay up to date and compliant with all state and local outdoor dining safety codes.
- Make employees aware of high-risk areas in front-of-house and back-of-house and provide safety training.
- Ensure staff wear adequate and appropriate footwear for the dining and kitchen environment.
Entrance and Exit Safety Issues
Poorly placed outdoor dining areas could block the exits of adjacent buildings and prevent people from escaping or stop emergency responders from assisting in the case of a disaster. To avoid these issues:
- Ensure your outdoor dining area is at least 10 feet between stake lines to account for emergency egress needs.
- Do not place your outdoor dining area anywhere that will block the exits to other buildings or prevent the emergency responders from accessing the properties.
Fire and Carbon Monoxide Hazards
In colder months, many restaurant owners add heaters to their outdoor dining arrangements. While outdoor heaters may be necessary for customer comfort, it introduces a number of new hazards—including fires, burns and carbon monoxide poisoning. To limit these hazards:
- Never leave outdoor heaters unattended.
- Turn heaters off when not in use.
- Place fire extinguishers near outdoor heaters and ensure employees are properly trained to put out a fire in case one does occur.
- Keep the flames from outdoor heaters guarded to avoid contact with customers and keep flammable materials away.
- Ensure any outdoor tents are fire resistant and compliant with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards— namely, NFPA 701.
- Never allow smoking in outdoor tents. Make sure “No Smoking” signage is clearly posted.
- Place outdoor heaters on level surfaces where they cannot tip. All heaters should have auto-shutoff capabilities in case a tip occurs.
- Don’t place the outdoor heaters too close to windows or air vents.
- Only use heaters in their intended environments. Keep in mind that outdoor heaters can cause carbon monoxide exposures when used indoors.
Weather Exposures
Many temporary outdoor dining structures are not meant to remain outside year-round. High winds can be a threat to umbrellas and tents. Further, unsecured umbrellas can tip over or become projectiles. Lightning strikes also pose a threat to customers and employees if they are outside during a storm. To mitigate adverse weather exposures:
- Know the wind and snow rating of your outdoor tents.
- Monitor the weather and have a plan for escorting guests to safety if a storm hits.
- Secure outdoor tents and umbrellas so that they can’t blow away.
- Have a plan for taking down and safely securing umbrellas and tents in case of severe weather.
For more risk management guidance, contact the Hospitality Insurance Experts at Deeley Insurance Group today!
