Hospitality industry

Hospitality workers

The hospitality industry is one of the fastest growing sectors in the South Australian economy. It comprises cafes, restaurants, accommodation, clubs, hotels and bars.

The industry is characterised by a highly mobile and youthful workforce engaged in a wide range of occupations including: chef, cook, kitchen-hand, restaurant and catering manager, cleaner and bar attendant.

It provides employment for people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and has a large number of part-time and casual workers, particularly women.

Hazards

The hospitality industry accounts for the fourth highest workers compensation claims costs of all industry sectors. The hazards and risks include:

• manual handling
• slips, trips and falls
• fire and emergency
• drugs and alcohol in the workplace
• violence in the workplace
• hazardous substances
• contractors
• injury reporting and management
• noise in the workplace.

With this in mind, a Virtual Kitchen has been produced to help workers and employers understand safe work in the industry.