As the hospitality industry continues to grow, the need for new workers is increasing. With this growth comes a rise in employment opportunities for people who work in the hospitality industry. This includes everything from waiters and waitresses to hotel staff and bartenders. But with this increase in jobs also comes an increase in crime rates. To ensure the safety and security of workers, the organization must have policies that will protect them. 

Here are 10 practical considerations to ensure hospitality workers are as safe as possible.

1. Equip Employees With Safety Devices

Ensure employees have access to hotel panic buttons or other safety devices if you have them in place. These can be worn around their necks or attached to their belts, so they are always nearby when needed. The devices send signals to security or law enforcement when activated, alerting them to the situation so they can respond quickly and take action accordingly. Safety equipment such as fire extinguishers and first-aid kits should be placed throughout your facility so that anyone who needs them can get access quickly.

2. Employ Safety and Security Training

Educate employees on recognizing suspicious behavior by customers or other people they encounter while working. This will help them feel empowered enough to report anything that seems out of place so it can be investigated further by management or police officers before it escalates into something dangerous or harmful toward others or themselves. It's important to do so in an engaging way so that they will retain the information long enough for it to be useful in a crisis.

3. Encourage Reporting Injuries and Incidents

Another way to ensure employee safety is to have a safe workplace policy outlining what can happen when an employee reports a problem or violates a policy. This gives employees the confidence to report issues without fear of retaliation by management or other staff members.

If you want your employees to feel safe reporting injuries or incidents, make sure they know they won't be reprimanded. This means having a clear process for reporting incidents and injuries so everyone knows what is expected from them if something happens at work.

4. Create a Safety Plan

You'll also want to create a safety plan for your business. This should include instructions on what to do in emergencies, such as a fire or an armed robbery. The plan should also clarify who is responsible for what actions during an emergency; this will help prevent confusion or delays in response time during a crisis. You might also want to include instructions on dealing with aggressive customers or colleagues. You should make sure that all staff members know about this plan, so they know what they need to do if the situation arises.

5.Ensure That There Is Adequate Medical Insurance Cover for All Employees

One of the most common injuries hospitality workers suffer is a back injury caused by lifting heavy objects or moving them around too much. To ensure that this does not happen, make sure that all employees have adequate medical insurance coverage so they can get treatment for their injuries if necessary, particularly those members of staff who are working in areas where there might be injuries or accidents involving guests or customers (such as chefs working in kitchens). Such policies can cover hospital treatment costs in case of an injury. Also, make sure that you have enough staff, so there isn't any excessive amount of lifting required from anyone at any given time.

6. Ensure That All Employees Are Aware of Their Rights and Responsibilities as Workers

Your employees must know what they can expect from you and what they can expect from other people in the workplace. This can include everything from reporting an incident of harassment or discrimination to how to handle issues with a guest or other employee. You should also ensure that all of your employees have access to a human resources representative who can answer any questions about their rights and responsibilities as workers in your business or organization.

Make sure all employees feel comfortable reporting any issues directly to you or another manager so they don't hesitate to come forward with concerns they may have regarding safety and security on the job site.

7. Keep Private Events Private

If you're having an event at your business, it's important not only for the safety of your guests but also for the safety of your staff that you do not release the details online or through social media channels such as Facebook or Twitter (unless it's an open event). Ensure all employees understand that they cannot talk about this event with anyone in the public who might hear them. Also, avoid posting photos or videos from private events on social media sites. Protecting privacy helps ensure privacy for all attendees. You never know when someone might try to crash an event by pretending they have been invited when they haven't been invited!

8. Match IDs to Registration Information

When hosting an event where guests stay overnight (such as a conference), check each guest's identification against their registration information. If using an ID scanner or a badge printer, ensure that the guests and employees match the ID number on the badge with the registration list before allowing entry into your establishment or onto any event property. This ensures that no unauthorized individuals enter your property and makes it easier for you to identify those who have already checked in when checking out.

9. Maintain Good Housekeeping Practices at All Times

Regularly inspect all public areas to ensure they are clean and free from hazards such as loose cords, broken glass and spilled liquids (including emptying trash bins). These simple steps can help prevent unexpected accidents, which can decrease liability risks for you and your business if someone gets hurt.

10. Listen to Your Workers

The first step in ensuring that your employees feel safe and respected is listening to them. If you have any concerns about their well-being or if there are problems with their performance, then address these issues directly with them as soon as possible. If you don't feel comfortable addressing these issues yourself, ask someone else who has more experience handling this kind of situation.

This article originally ran in Security, a twice-monthly security-focused eNewsletter for security end users, brought to you by Security Magazine. Subscribe here.