September 29, 2026

Fall Safety Checklist for Hospitality

Seasonal changes bring new risks—from wet leaves on walkways to darker evenings for staff and guests. This checklist will help you catch the hazards that too often fade into the background before they turn into costly claims.

As the seasons change, so does the hazards to your staff and customers. To help navigate some of the common seasonal pitfalls, we have compiled some basics to review during your next Safety Committee meeting.

General Tips:

Inspect Walkways & Parking Lots: Sweep wet leaves, patch cracks, and test lighting before frost sets in.
Check Roofs & Gutters: Remove leaves and debris to prevent ice dams and leaks during early snowfalls.
Review Heating & Ventilation: Schedule fall maintenance for HVAC units, boilers, and filters to ensure safe indoor air quality.
Stock Up on Winter Supplies: Order salt, ice melt, shovels, and mats now so you’re not scrambling in the first storm.
Test Emergency Equipment: Confirm fire extinguishers, alarms, AEDs, and first aid kits are functional and easy to access.
Update Safety Training: Refresh staff on slip prevention, proper lifting, and emergency procedures.
Audit Signage: Ensure exits, wet-floor warnings, and hazard signs are visible, well-lit, and not worn out.
Check Delivery & Vendor Areas: Inspect back entrances and loading docks for lighting, trip hazards, and clear access.

Lodging Properties:

Guestroom Maintenance: Ensure heating systems are serviced, filters are changed, and carbon monoxide detectors are tested before colder weather drives guests indoors.
Lobby & Entryways: Place slip-resistant mats at entrances and check that housekeeping staff are equipped to manage wet floors quickly.
Elevator & Stairwell Lighting: Shorter days mean darker spaces—inspect and replace bulbs to keep all guest pathways well-lit.

Restaurant & Food Service:

Kitchen Floors: Schedule a quarterly deep clean to strip grease and apply non-slip floor treatment, inspect floor drains to ensure proper drainage before busy holiday service.
Outdoor Dining & Sidewalk Service: Assign staff to a daily “leaf sweep” checklist, secure outdoor heaters and umbrellas with weighted bases, and add anti-slip tape to outdoor steps or ramps.
Storage & Back Rooms: Reorganize shelves so heavy boxes are below shoulder height, mark lifting zones with tape on the floor, and provide team training on proper lifting posture to reduce strains.

What is the New Hampshire Hospitality Compensation Trust?

The NHHCT is an exclusive program for New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association members and is a self-insured, not-for-profit trust established in 1994 to offer members a valuable alternative from the ever-rising cost of the commercial workers' compensation insurance market.

Since its inception, members have experienced more than 69% reduction in Trust rates and have returned over $12.5 million in dividends, making the Trust the most advantageous form of workers’ compensation coverage.