Owning your own restaurant may be your opportunity of a lifetime. A restaurant business is also an intense insurance risk. A realistic plan to reduce your risk coupled with insurance protection can help keep your dream a safe investment. For help on restaurant insurance, contact our agent today.
Kitchen Fires
Prevention is your best safeguard! Be sure that you have appropriate fire suppression systems in place and maintained. Insurance companies typically require that your heat producing cooking equipment, particularly grease sources (fryers, grills, ranges), have a fire suppression system and vent hood overhead. Also, grease handling in the kitchen is very important. Grease presents a high risk of both starting a fire and fuelling a fire started from another source. For help on restaurant insurance, contact our agent today.
Electrical Fire
Second to a cooking or a grease fire, overloaded or malfunctioning electrical equipment is a particular risk for restaurants. Very often there are electrical wiring, worn-out appliances and overloaded circuits. There is no good reason to take these risks. For help on restaurant insurance, contact our agent today.
Slip & Fall Lawsuits
While having a customer slip and fall is a risk for any business open to the public, restaurants are at particular risk because of the large number of customer visits and the added hazard of food spills. General Liability Insurance protection is critical for your risk to the public. One of our restaurant client's was sued after a patron tripped in a pothole in the parking lot in 2006. Walk your entire business location and look for any irregular walking surface or other hazard in your public space that can cause a person to trip and fall. Eliminate these hazards if possible and mark potential trip hazards that can't be removed. Protect stairs with strong handrails. Potential food spills need a response plan and equipment ready. For help on restaurant insurance, contact our agent today.
Food Related Lawsuits
Restaurant owners can be sued after a customer becomes ill after eating and contracting a food borne illness. Safe handling of food is an important priority for any restaurant. There are no short-cuts in safe food handling. Know your food product sources. Keep your food inventory fresh by ordering sensibly and discarding any food approaching expiration. For help on restaurant insurance, contact our agent today.
Liquor Liability
If you serve beer, wine or other liquor, be sure you are protected from lawsuits resulting from alcohol-related incidents. Don't risk you Liquor License or a lawsuit by serving intoxicated or under-aged patrons. Be sure to include Liquor Liability coverage in your insurance policy. For help on restaurant insurance, contact our agent today.
Property Risks
Operating a restaurant often includes considerable equipment, building improvements and food stock. Adequate property insurance protection is critical and may also be required by your lease. Visualize what it would take to restore your restaurant after a major fire. Be sure to include the lease improvements to restore your space, the kitchen equipment & built-ins, tableware and food stocks. For help on restaurant insurance, contact our agent today.
Employee Injury Lawsuits
A food establishment is very much a people driven business. Your hired help is your biggest asset and one of your biggest lawsuit risks. Food preparation has some inherent hazards for employee injuries. Minimize the kitchen risks with appropriate training and safety appliances. Another typical injury for employees in food service establishments is slipping and falling. Worker's Compensation Insurance is critical liability protection for any employer. The added risks of working in a restaurant environment increase the need for this protection. Risk reduction is also an important strategy. For help on restaurant insurance, contact our agent today.
Conclusion
Prevention is your best insurance in the restaurant business! Understand the special risks that you have as a restaurant owner and do what you can to reduce them. Buy appropriate commercial insurance protection to help make your food service venture a safer investment. For help on restaurant insurance,
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