Employee Selection

Management should seek out and hire employees that are not only qualified, but also demonstrate a safe work behavior. Applicants should be told the requirements of the job and asked if they can meet these requirements (i.e. “This position requires mopping, sweeping, unloading and stocking of product up to 25 lbs. Is there any reason that you would be unable to perform these tasks?”) Reference applicants: No offer of employment is to be made until the required reference inquiries are completed. Make sure there are no misrepresentations or fraudulent statements.

Employee Orientation

A safety orientation for a new employee provides an opportunity to impress upon the new employee that the Company is very serious about safety and they are to take it very seriously. Most accidents happen to new employees. Therefore, it is critical that they learn all the safety procedures and rules at the beginning. Be sure they understand that accidents are avoidable and safety is everyone’s responsibility. All new employees must be given the safety rules. Be sure they understand them, have them sign and place a copy in their personnel jacket. Also a copy should be posted in each work area or on a central employee bulletin board. Specific rules that apply to specific duties should be reviewed with employees at time of hire.
Orientation Details:

• Everyone is responsible for safety.
• Everyone must adhere to Company safety rules, procedures and policies.
• All accidents must be reported accurately and immediately.
• Safety is as important to the job as is all other areas.

Worker’s Compensation:
All company employees are covered for work-related injuries or illness during their employment by a worker’s compensation program. The compensation rate, amount of benefits, length of time covered and the eligibility requirements are directed by the state law and therefore may vary from state to state.

Training Guidelines

• Train employees and show video (Centerplate’s “A Safe Attitude”) from day one on safety policies, procedures and rules.
• Give them a copy of the safety rules. Be sure they understand them. Have them sign them and place a signed copy in their personnel jacket.
• Continual reminders of safe practices on lifting, machine usage, stocking, wet floor signs, etc. should be given.
• Emphasize the kind of accidents that have happened in your specific unit and how they can be avoided.

Counseling Procedures

Violating any safety rule or practices or engaging in any conduct which may create a safety hazard should be considered a serious offense and appropriate counseling must take place. After an accident has occurred, management must also counsel and instruct the employee on how to avoid a repeat accident.

First Injury Accident

• Give additional training, stressing safe work methods.
• Review the incident with the Safety Committee and come up with a solution to keep this incident from happening again.

Accident Repeater

• Issue a verbal warning that continued incidents could result in disciplinary action up to and including termination.
• Work with employee to try to determine the exact cause and solution to the problem they may be having. Work with the person to help them obtain and maintain a safer behavior.

Employee Safety Rules

All employees must be given the safety rules. They must read them, be sure they understand them and sign off on them. A signed copy should be placed in their personnel jacket. A copy of the safety rules should be posted on your bulletin board. Any employee given a new job assignment will also be given the safety rules for that specific job.

• Wet floors – even a few drops – cause more accidents than anything else.
  • Wipe up spills immediately.
  • If you must walk on wet slippery floors, slow down and take short steps.
  • Put out caution signs.
• Immediately pick up anything you drop on the floor or any foreign object you see on the floor.
• Watch where you are going at all times, especially through doorways, busy aisles and corners.
• Every accident, no matter how slight, must be reported to your supervisor.
• Always ask for instructions before using any type of equipment with which you are not entirely experienced or fully trained on.
• Keep aisles, halls and walkways free from electrical cords and hoses.
• Sweep up – don’t pick up – broken glass.
• Ask your supervisor for instructions in lifting heavy objects so as to avoid serious injury. Get help when it is more than you can handle.
• Wear shoes with slip resistant soles and hard toes.
• Use an approved ladder to step stool, not a box, crate or chair, for reaching high objects.
• Use all personal protective equipment provided for you and that you are required to wear.
• Keep work areas clean and orderly.
• All personnel will observe all traffic signals, speed limits and warning signs while driving company vehicles.
• All no smoking areas in Centerplate or our Client’s place of business will be observed.
• All personnel will report any safety hazards to your supervisor immediately.
• All personnel will use care when lifting objects and use a cart or handtruck when necessary.
• All personnel will wear cut resistant gloves when slicing, dicing and chopping and when cleaning the slicer.
• Pull – do not push – carts through doorways.
• Use a wooded tamper when operating food choppers or grinders.
• You must always unplug equipment before cleaning it.
• Do not put your hands in the garbage disposal.
• Store all equipment and utensils in proper place and properly when finished using them.