The easiest way to create a risk assessment is to use our pre-filled, editable Cafe and Restaurant Risk Assessment Template. Professionally written and tailored to the unique hazards found in cafes and restaurants, this template saves you time while ensuring your assessment is accurate, compliant, and industry-specific.

A risk assessment should identify potential hazards, determine who could be harmed, and outline the control measures you’ll put in place to reduce risk. In cafes and restaurants, this often includes hazards such as hot cooking equipment, sharp utensils, wet floors, cleaning chemicals, and manual handling tasks. You should also record how these risks will be managed — for example, through staff training, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and regular maintenance checks.

For a complete solution, our Cafe and Restaurant Health and Safety Template Bundle includes not only the Cafe and Restaurant Risk Assessment Template but also a Health and Safety Policy, Fire Safety Templates, and COSHH Risk Assessments. Each document is pre-filled, easy to customise, and designed to help you stay compliant with legal requirements while maintaining a safe working environment for your staff and customers.

Yes — all cafes and restaurants must complete a health and safety risk assessment to identify and control workplace hazards.

Under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, every employer has a legal duty to assess the risks that could cause harm to employees, customers, or visitors. This includes common hazards such as hot surfaces, sharp utensils, cleaning chemicals, and slips or trips in food preparation or dining areas.

Using our editable Cafe and Restaurant Risk Assessment Template, which comes pre-filled with industry-specific content, makes this process quick, easy, and accurate — helping you stay compliant and protect both staff and customers.

If your business employs five or more people, your risk assessment must be recorded in writing. However, it is strongly recommended for all cafes and restaurants, even those with fewer than five employees, to complete and keep a written record. Having your assessment documented demonstrates a proactive approach to safety, helps maintain consistency in daily operations, and provides evidence of due diligence in the event of an inspection or incident. Completing a risk assessment for your cafe or restaurant helps you systematically identify hazards, record control measures, and demonstrate compliance during inspections.

Your risk assessment should identify all potential hazards within your establishment, evaluate the likelihood and severity of these hazards causing harm, and outline measures to mitigate this risk. This should cover everything from kitchen equipment and working at elevated temperatures to employee actions and customer interactions. Risk assessments should be documented and regularly reviewed.

Find our Cafe and Restaurant Risk Assessment Template here.

Cafes and restaurants should have a health and safety policy, risk assessment, COSHH assessments, and fire safety documents.

If your business employs five or more people, you are legally required to have written health and safety documents. However, it’s strongly recommended as a best-practice measure for all cafes and restaurants — even those with fewer than five employees — to keep these documents in place. Having written records such as a Health and Safety Policy, Risk Assessment, Fire Risk Assessment, COSHH Risk Assessments, Accident Report Form, and Staff Safety Guidance helps ensure safety, compliance, supports staff training, and provides evidence of due diligence in the event of an inspection or incident.

Our Cafe and Restaurant Health and Safety Template Bundle includes all of these editable documents, many with pre-filled content, helping you stay organised and compliant.

Fire safety is one of the most important responsibilities for any cafe or restaurant owner. With open flames, hot oil, and electrical appliances all present, the risk of fire is high — which is why completing a Fire Risk Assessment is a legal requirement and an essential step in protecting staff, customers, and property.

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, all businesses must carry out a fire risk assessment to identify hazards and implement preventative measures. Cafes and restaurants must also maintain fire alarms, extinguishers, and emergency lighting, and ensure that escape routes are kept clear at all times. Staff should receive regular fire safety training, fire drills, and understand evacuation procedures.

Our Fire Risk Assessment & Essential Fire Safety Template Bundle provide editable templates, checklists, and detailed guidance to help you stay compliant, reduce fire risks, and maintain a safe environment for everyone.

Kitchen staff are at particular risk due to the use of sharp knives, hot cooking surfaces, and heavy lifting.

Regulations require employers to complete a risk assessment to evaluate any identified risks and decide on precautions. This helps put into place adequate measures to protect people from harm such as providing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) like heat-resistant gloves and non-slip shoes. Staff may also receive training on the safe use of equipment and manual handling to minimise the risk of accidents. Emergency first aid kits should be readily available and there location clearly marked.

To make this process quicker and easier, our Cafe and Restaurant Risk Assessment and Health and Safety Template Bundle include everything you need to identify hazards, record your findings, and stay compliant with legal requirements. Many editable documents come pre-filled with content relevant to cafes and restaurants — covering kitchen equipment, PPE, manual handling, staff safety, and more. These templates save time, reduce paperwork, and help you maintain a safer working environment for your team and customers.

Yes — cafes and restaurants can face serious legal and financial consequences for failing to comply with health and safety regulations.

Restaurants, cafes, bistros, eateries, and other food hospitality businesses have a legal duty to protect employees, customers, and visitors from harm. Failure to meet these obligations can result in enforcement action, fines, prosecution, or even closure of the premises. Non-compliance with key areas such as fire safety, food hygiene, and risk assessments can also lead to civil claims if someone is injured or becomes ill. Having up-to-date documents such as a Cafe and Restaurant Risk Assessment, Health and Safety Policy, and Fire Risk Assessment in place helps demonstrate compliance and due diligence.

Our Cafe and Restaurant Health and Safety Template Bundle provides all the essential templates you need to ensure compliance, protect your business, and avoid costly penalties.

The main hazards include hot surfaces, sharp knives and utensils, wet floors, cleaning chemicals, and food hygiene risks.

Busy kitchen and dining environments expose staff to a variety of hazards. Burns and scalds from hot oil or steam, cuts from sharp tools or broken glass, and slips on wet floors are all common issues. Cleaning chemicals and poor food storage can also lead to health problems.

Our Cafe and Restaurant Risk Assessment Template and COSHH Risk Assessment Templates help identify, manage, and control these risks effectively.

Yes, it is best practice for every cafe and restaurant to have a health and safety policy outlining its commitment to keeping people safe.

A health and safety policy is a key legal requirement if you have five or more employees, but even smaller cafes and restaurants benefit from having one in place. It sets out how your business manages safety, identifies responsibilities, and explains procedures for preventing accidents and protecting staff and customers.

Our Health and Safety Policy Template, which is included in the Cafe and Restaurant Health and Safety Template Bundle, is editable and designed to be easily adaptable to the food and hospitality industry.

Proper storage, labelling, and COSHH assessments are essential for managing cleaning products safely.

Cleaning chemicals, sanitisers, and disinfectants can cause burns or respiratory irritation if mishandled. Cafes and restaurants should complete COSHH Risk Assessments for all hazardous substances and ensure staff are trained in safe use and storage.

Our COSHH Risk Assessment Collection includes pre-filled examples for a range of substances hazardous to heath, helping you manage compliance and protect staff effectively.

For substances we have not yet covered there is also a Blank COSHH Risk Assessment Template - Simply consult the SDS (Safety Data Sheet) for the substance in question and complete the easy-to-use-form.

All accidents should be recorded using an accident report form, investigated, and steps taken to prevent them from happening again.

If your business has five or more employees, you are legally required to keep a written record of all workplace accidents. Some serious incidents must also be reported under RIDDOR (Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations) — for example, if an employee suffers a serious burn from hot oil, is injured by a sharp knife requiring hospital treatment, or is absent for more than seven days due to a work-related injury.

Use an Accident Report Form to document every incident and review your risk assessments to prevent recurrence. Our Cafe and Restaurant Health and Safety Template Bundle includes an editable accident report form and risk assessment to help you manage this process easily and professionally.

In cafes or restaurants health and safety documents should be reviewed annually or whenever significant changes occur in your business.

You should update your risk assessments, policies, and fire safety documents if you introduce new equipment, change your layout, or hire additional staff. For businesses with five or more employees, updated written records are required by law.

Our Cafe and Restaurant Health and Safety Template Bundle, which includes a suite of over 60 essential health and safety templates, makes it easy to keep your documents current — just edit, save, and reissue to your team.

Staff should receive regular training in food hygiene, fire safety, manual handling, first aid, and anything else relevant to your specific cafe or restaurant setup.

Well-trained employees are crucial to maintaining a safe cafe or restaurant. New starters should receive an induction, and all staff should have ongoing refresher training to stay compliant. If you have five or more employees, keep written records of all training completed.

Our Cafe and Restaurant Health and Safety Template Bundle includes staff induction forms, safety guidance sheets, and more, to help you manage training efficiently.