With high public interaction, diverse employee roles and dynamic operating environments, health and safety is a high priority for businesses in the leisure and hospitality and retail sectors.
Non-compliance with health and safety regulations can have significant financial, reputational and human costs, making it a top risk for senior leadership. This article examines the nature of health and safety risks for retail, leisure and hospitality and offers the core practical steps for improving and addressing these challenges.
Beyond financial costs, health and safety lapses can severely harm your reputation, as we’ve seen from high-profile cases involving issues such as allergen miscommunication and workplace accidents.
Effective health and safety management also directly impacts employee morale and productivity, with our research showing high wellbeing cultures foster eight times more engaged employees compared to low-wellbeing cultures.
Poor health and safety practices can also amplify other organisational risks, including cybersecurity vulnerabilities, regulatory breaches and legal liabilities. According to our latest Directors’ and Officers’ (D&O) Survey, 84% of respondents identified health and safety as ‘very important’ or ‘extremely important,’ recognising its importance for financial resilience, operational continuity and public confidence.
Other significant risks identified in the survey include potential breaches of human rights, which 60% of respondents deemed important. While employment claims were highlighted by 50% of directors surveyed. These findings suggest leaders are prioritising robust health and safety frameworks, recognising the direct impact these issues have on operational continuity, regulatory compliance and public perception.
However, a 2024 survey indicated 70% of businesses are unprepared for Health and Safety Executive inspections due to outdated systems, suggesting some retail, leisure and hospitality organisations need to review their data management and safety protocols.
In the UK, health, safety and hygiene in the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors are governed by a blend of regulatory standards, industry best practices and legal obligations aimed at protecting employees and customers. Central to this framework is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, which mandates that businesses assess risks, implement measures to mitigate hazards and maintain a safe working environment.
Complementing this are rigorous hygiene regulations, such as the Food Safety Act 1990 and Food Hygiene (England) Regulations 2006, which enforce stringent food preparation and storage standards, alongside personal hygiene protocols for staff. Fire safety, regulated under the Fire Safety Order 2005, requires businesses to implement measures like emergency exits, regular fire drills and equipment checks.
Recent updates to the UK's health and safety regulations, include reforms to the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR) aimed at improving incident reporting and ensuring businesses remain compliant.
Together, these regulations create a robust framework aimed at ensuring operations are safe, hygienic and compliant with legal expectations.
An effective health and safety risk management strategy isn’t just a regulatory necessity — it’s a competitive advantage. By implementing targeted strategies, retail, leisure and hospitality organisations can protect their workforce, enhance customer trust and align with insurance requirements to mitigate financial risks.
Below are five actionable steps to help your organisation build a robust health and safety framework that drives compliance, reduces liability and strengthens operational resilience.
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To discover a smarter way to manage health and safety risks, get in touch with our retail, leisure and hospitality industry specialists.
