Insurance and Risk Management for Bars, Restaurants and Pubs

The risk of financial exposure for damages or injuries arising in the in the course of a business can occur in a variety of ways. This information will focus on the main types of insurance cover that offer protection to a business by limiting such financial exposure.

Risk Management – Key Issues

• Identify Hazards
• Evaluate Hazards – What are the underlying causes, what is the likelihood of an event occurring and what is the nature of the consequences?
• Develop and Introduce Risk Reduction Measures
• Prepare Written Risk Assessment

Risk Assessment – Key Issues - General

• You have a legal obligation to protect employees, customers and members of the public against harm.
• Preparing a written risk assessment will assist you in meeting your legal obligations. It is also a legal requirement if you have five or more employees although it is good practice for every business, regardless of size, to prepare and maintain a written risk assessment.
• Your risk assessment should be a living document in order that it can be reviewed and updated as circumstances dictate.
• Whilst it is of critical importance that your risk assessment addresses the risks associated with Covid-19 you must not ignore other risks associated with your business such as preventing slips, trips and falls.
• Communicate the content of your risk assessment to employees and customers.

Risk Assessment – Key Issues – Operational

Ensure your risk assessment is relevant to your business and reflects current government legal requirements, government guidelines and any recommendations made by a trade body or business association with whom you are connected.

Think in terms of risks that are associated with:
• Your premises
• Your activities
• Your employees
• Your customers
• The public

Specifically how have your operational activities been modified to address the risks associated with Covid-19?

Example: Have you introduced or expanded outdoor facilities. If so does this create any increased or new risks? These might be weather related (slips) or public related if there is increased proximity (impact between customer and passers-by)

For more information on Risk Assessments can be found here.

FAQs:

General

Q – We have amended our risk assessment on two occasions should we destroy the old risk assessments?

A – No. Consider giving your risk assessment a version number as well as a date of completion e.g. V 1 01/06/2020. Any amendments can be given a sequential version number and dated. Whilst ensuring everyone is aware of the revised risk assessment you can archive the old risk assessments in the event you are required to demonstrate at some date in the future what risk management measures you had in place on a given date.

Q – The current business environment is very challenging and preparing and maintaining risk assessments is just a further strain on resources. Do we really need to undertake and record our risk assessment when we know we are operating safely?

A – Yes, all businesses must carry out a risk assessmentRemember if you have five or more employees you are legally obliged to have a written risk assessment. If you have less than five employees it is good business practice to prepare and maintain a written risk assessment.

Insurance

Q – Since re-opening we have started providing a carry out food and delivery service. Is this something we need to tell our insurers?

A – Yes. You should inform your insurers of any operational changes to your business.

Q – We have created an outdoor seating area using some public space and a section of ground which is owned by a third party. There are no issues in us using the public space and we have the permission of the third party landowner to use his property. Is this something we need to tell our insurers?

A – Yes. You should inform your insurers of any physical changes to your business.