January is often a slow time of the year for restaurants. In fact, research from the NPD Group shows restaurants frequently experience more than a 10% decline in sales compared to peak summer months.
While slower foot traffic can be frustrating, it also creates an opportunity. Extra time in January can be used to focus on restaurant risk management, helping reduce insurance claims, improving safety, and protecting your business before the busy seasons return.
Whether you have one hour, five hours, or ten hours, small improvements can have a lasting impact throughout the year.
One Hour: Reduce Slip, Trip, and Fire Risks
Even if you just have 60 minutes in your schedule, you can make progress on improving your restaurant.
Replace worn floor mats
Spend that time ordering and replacing internal floor mats – yes, those with the curled edges – before someone stumbles and gets hurt. Falls remain one of the most frequent and costly insurance claims in the industry, making this an easy win for restaurant safety.
Address a common fire hazard
You can also accomplish the most common recommendation that our risk control team makes for restaurants and bars: purchase an approved greasy rag storage container to help prevent spontaneous combustion fires. Traditionally, these containers have been used in woodworking, auto repair and by other businesses who utilize oils, varnish, paint thinners, etc. Oily waste cans with self-closing lids can be purchased at most home improvement and hardware stores or online retailers such as U-Line, Grainger, Justrite, Fastenal, Lab Safety Shop, and Amazon. Look for the UL listing or the FM Approved markings to ensure compliance
Five Hours: Strengthen Your Defense Against Ice and Winter Hazards
- Winter weather creates unique risks for restaurant operators, especially when it comes to slip and fall prevention.
- Stock up on ice melt (often safer than salt for pets and landscaping)
- Train staff on proper application after snow removal
- Keep ice melt near entrances for frequent spot treatments
- Apply ice melt before storms to prevent accumulation
Then, spend time walking around the building and identifying areas that are subject to a freeze-and-thaw cycle. Where is there a puddle at noon that could turn into a sheet of ice by 5:00 p.m.? These areas are hazardous and should be checked and salted more often.
Ten Hours: Prevent Freeze Damage and Costly Water Claims
As you can see, a lot of our recommendations are cold-weather related as these items may have been overlooked during the busy holiday season. If winter has already arrived, it’s still better late than never.
Many parts of the country are no stranger to arctic air masses this time of year. This type of weather system brings both bitter cold and wind chills that create dangerous conditions for those in its path, affecting not only people, roads, and vehicles, but building infrastructure, too.
Frozen pipes can be a concern in buildings during the cold months which, if left unaddressed, can burst and cause further structural damage.
We recommend:
- insulating exterior spigots (and disconnecting exterior hoses)
- sealing all exterior cracks, holes, windows and doors to keep the cold air out
- sealing and insulating interior pipe stacks, chases and enclosed spaces, especially those with water pipes that are most vulnerable near exterior walls.
Society Insurance Helps Turn a Slow Season Into a Smart One
January’s slower pace gives restaurant operators the rare chance to address risk management tasks that often get pushed aside during peak seasons. A few focused hours can help reduce claims, improve safety, and protect your investment for the year ahead.
Take time to prepare—and if possible, recharge—so you can enter the Valentine’s Day rush rested, prepared, and protected.
For more restaurant risk management and business protection tips, visit Society Insurance.
