Health, safety and fire requirements for hospitality venues

Health and safety responsibilities

As a hospitality business, you have legal duties to protect the health, safety and welfare of your employees, customers, and anyone else affected by your business activities.

The hospitality sector faces specific risks including slips and trips, manual handling injuries, burns, cuts, violence and aggression, and work-related stress.

Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

Employers in hospitality must ensure the health, safety and welfare of employees and others affected by their work activities. This includes risk assessments, safe systems of work, training, and provision of PPE.

Employer duties

Under Section 2 of HSWA 1974, employers must ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable:

Safe plant and systems of work
Safe use, handling, storage and transport of articles and substances
Provision of information, instruction, training and supervision
Safe place of work with safe access and egress
Safe working environment with adequate welfare facilities

Risk assessment requirement

Employers with 5 or more employees must record significant findings of risk assessments in writing. Assessments must be suitable and sufficient, identifying hazards and evaluating risks.

Common hospitality hazards

Slips, trips and falls (wet floors, uneven surfaces)
Manual handling injuries (lifting kegs, stock, equipment)
Burns and scalds from cooking equipment
Cuts from knives and food preparation equipment
Violence and aggression from customers
Work-related stress and long working hours
Lone working risks

Health and safety policy

Businesses with 5 or more employees must have a written health and safety policy setting out arrangements for managing health and safety.

Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland the equivalent duties arise under the Health and Safety at Work (Northern Ireland) Order 1978, enforced by the Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI).

Step 1: Conduct risk assessments for all work activities and premises areas
Step 2: Identify control measures to eliminate or reduce risks
Step 3: Record significant findings if you employ 5 or more people
Step 4: Prepare written health and safety policy if you employ 5 or more people
Step 5: Provide health and safety training and induction for all staff
Step 6: Display health and safety law poster or provide leaflet to employees
Step 7: Maintain accident book and report serious incidents to HSE via RIDDOR
Step 8: Review risk assessments annually or when circumstances change

Health and safety in hospitality

Fire safety responsibilities

Fire safety is critical in hospitality premises, particularly those with sleeping accommodation. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 places specific duties on the 'responsible person'.

Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

The 'responsible person' (employer, owner or occupier) must carry out a fire risk assessment for any non-domestic premises and implement appropriate fire safety measures. This applies to all hospitality premises including hotels, restaurants, pubs and nightclubs.

Who is the responsible person?

The responsible person is the employer, owner, landlord, occupier, or anyone with control of the premises. In hospitality, this is typically the business owner or manager.

Fire risk assessment

The responsible person must carry out and regularly review a fire risk assessment covering:

Identification of fire hazards (ignition sources, fuel, oxygen)
Identification of people at risk (employees, customers, vulnerable persons)
Evaluation and reduction of risks
Recording the assessment in full - since 1 October 2023 (section 156 of the Building Safety Act 2022) all responsible persons must record their fire risk assessment in full, regardless of how many people they employ
Regular review and updates

Fire safety measures

Based on the risk assessment, implement appropriate measures including:

Fire detection and warning systems (smoke alarms, fire alarm panels)
Fire-fighting equipment (extinguishers, fire blankets)
Emergency escape routes and lighting
Fire safety signs and notices
Fire doors kept clear and free to close
Staff training on fire procedures
Emergency evacuation plan and drills

Fire Safety Act 2021

The Fire Safety Act 2021 (commenced 16 May 2022 in England, 1 October 2021 in Wales) clarified that for buildings containing two or more sets of domestic premises (for example a pub or restaurant with flats above), the fire risk assessment must cover the building's structure, external walls and flat entrance doors. Hotel and B&B bedrooms are not domestic premises, so this provision does not apply to them - they are already fully covered by the Fire Safety Order.

Step 1: Appoint a competent person to conduct fire risk assessment (may be yourself if trained)
Step 2: Complete fire risk assessment identifying hazards and persons at risk
Step 3: Implement control measures to reduce fire risk
Step 4: Ensure fire detection systems are installed and maintained
Step 5: Provide adequate fire-fighting equipment (extinguishers) and arrange annual servicing
Step 6: Establish clear evacuation routes with emergency lighting and signage
Step 7: Designate assembly point and ensure staff know evacuation procedures
Step 8: Train all staff on fire safety procedures during induction
Step 9: Conduct regular fire drills (at least annually)
Step 10: Record your fire risk assessment in full (required for all responsible persons since 1 October 2023, whatever the size of your business)
Step 11: Review fire risk assessment annually or after significant changes

Fire safety risk assessment guidance

Additional requirements for sleeping accommodation

Hotels, B&Bs, guesthouses, and any hospitality premises offering sleeping accommodation face enhanced fire safety requirements due to the increased risk to sleeping guests.

Fire safety for sleeping accommodation

Fire safety duties under the Fire Safety Order audit regime - enhanced requirements for premises with sleeping accommodation

Regulator: Fire Rescue Authority
Typical fee: None (assessment required)
Frequency: ongoing
Legal basis: Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005

Not a licence but a legal requirement. Fire certificates were abolished by the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 - fire safety is now enforced through fire and rescue authority audits and inspections. The responsible person must conduct a fire risk assessment for all non-domestic premises, with enhanced measures expected where there is sleeping accommodation (hotels, B&Bs, guesthouses). The responsible person must implement fire safety measures, maintain fire equipment, and keep the assessment up to date.

Coming: Martyn's Law duties for premises open to the public

The Terrorism (Protection of Premises) Act 2025, known as Martyn's Law, received Royal Assent on 3 April 2025. Its duties are not yet in force - the government has indicated an implementation period of at least 24 months before commencement, with the duties expected to apply from 2027.

When commenced, the Act will require qualifying premises open to the public - including many pubs, restaurants, hotels and venues - to take steps to prepare for the risk of terrorism:

Standard tier (premises with a capacity of 200 to 799): notify the regulator and put basic preparedness procedures in place, such as evacuation, invacuation, lockdown and communication plans
Enhanced tier (capacity of 800 or more): additional requirements to assess and reduce vulnerability to terrorist attack

The Security Industry Authority (SIA) will regulate the new regime. No action is legally required yet, but operators of larger venues should monitor GOV.UK and ProtectUK for commencement dates and guidance, and consider building terrorism preparedness into existing emergency planning.

Managing common hospitality risks

Slips, trips and falls

The most common cause of injury in hospitality. Implement anti-slip flooring in kitchens and wet areas, maintain clear walkways, clean up spills immediately, and use warning signs.

Manual handling

Lifting kegs, moving furniture, carrying stock can cause back injuries. Provide training, use mechanical aids where possible (trolleys, sack trucks), and ensure team lifts for heavy items.

Burns and scalds

Kitchen staff face risks from hot equipment, oil, and steam. Ensure appropriate PPE (heat-resistant gloves, aprons), maintain equipment properly, and establish safe working procedures for handling hot items.

Violence and aggression

Staff in pubs, bars and nightclubs may face violence from intoxicated customers. Train staff in conflict de-escalation, implement policies on refusing service, consider security staff for high-risk venues, and provide a way for staff to summon help.

Lone working

Staff opening or closing premises alone face risks. Implement check-in procedures, provide personal safety alarms, ensure good lighting and secure entry points.

Health, safety and fire requirements for hospitality venues

Accommodation regulations for hotels, B&Bs, and short-term lets

Comply with fire safety law as the responsible person

Meet fire safety requirements for your business premises

Health and safety for retail premises

Maintain your business premises

Health and safety responsibilities

Fire safety responsibilities

Additional requirements for sleeping accommodation

Coming: Martyn's Law duties for premises open to the public

Managing common hospitality risks

Slips, trips and falls

Manual handling

Burns and scalds

Violence and aggression

Lone working

Related guides in Fire Safety

Health and safety responsibilities

Fire safety responsibilities

Additional requirements for sleeping accommodation

Coming: Martyn's Law duties for premises open to the public

Managing common hospitality risks

Slips, trips and falls

Manual handling

Burns and scalds

Violence and aggression

Lone working