For breweries, and many other hospitality businesses, outdoor services have skyrocketed in popularity since the pandemic. According to Yelp, there were fewer than 8,000 outdoor businesses in February 2020 that listed outdoor dining as an option. By February 2022, that number had grown to 26,000.
As brewery owners navigate the crowd the warm weather brings during the summer months, it can be easy to lose sight of safety issues. Risks related to moving business outdoors, including pets, slip, trips and falls, and more can put customers and team members at risk, while threatening the financial health of your business. Savvy brewery owners will take the time now to review the core risks facing their breweries and understand best practices to mitigate them.
Top outdoor business risks
Four-legged patrons. Everyone loves taking their pets out over the summer, and pet-friendly breweries see increases in traffic during this time of the year. However, there are a few safety risks that come with the territory. In fact, insurers paid out more than $1 billion in dog-related injury claims in 2022, with 17,595 dog-related injury claims during the course of the year.
Fortunately, brewery owners can mitigate this risk by enforcing a safe environment that is welcoming to pets. Brewery owners welcoming pets should:
- Create concrete safety policies: Brewery owners should implement clear pet-related safety requirements. This could include requiring leashes and collars or harnesses with current rabies tags, making sure staff doesn’t make any unnecessary contact with pets to reduce transmission of germs and ensure pets aren’t seated at any tables, countertops or other surfaces as this introduces additional contamination risks.
- Check local regulations: Not all states actually allow pets in outdoor patio areas. Research your local regulations and if your state does allow pets on the patio, ensure you are following recommended procedures. Management should also be sure to get a pet-friendly permit before allowing any pets on the premises.
- Create regular cleaning schedules: Vigilant and regular cleaning is essential with pets on site. Staff members should be on the lookout for pet hair, waste and more, and in the event of any waste, staff should be sure to clean with animal friendly chemicals as soon as possible.
Slips, trips and falls. According to the National Safety Council, the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death is falls, and in 2020, 42,114 people died in falls at home and work. At breweries, slips, trips and falls can be a common issue that can cause injuries to staff or customers. As you know, without proper housekeeping, slippery wet floors can be a common site.
What can breweries do to reduce slip, trip and fall claims? Strong housekeeping is key. Business owners should reinforce regular cleaning of the outdoor property area, ensuring there aren’t spills or hazards in the walking paths. Any wet floors should be marked with signage. Brewery staff can also consider using slip-resistant shoes. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found that in a study of 17,000 participants, slip-resistant shoes led a 67% reduction in injury claims.
Good lighting is also critical to reducing slip, trips and falls. Make sure the parking lot and all outdoor areas are properly lit so customers and staff members can see any tripping hazards or wet areas.
Outdoor property. On windy days, a strong breeze can knock over umbrellas and patrons and staff can get injured as a result. Rainy days can also create additional slip-and-fall risks. While most days over the summer will be warm, in the event of a colder day, we have also seen outdoor property risks related to propane heaters. If they are located too close to umbrellas or awnings, they can cause fires. Propane heaters also can be knocked over and cause injury.
To combat these risks, we’d recommend:
- Placing propane heaters away from umbrellas and out of common walkways
- Anchoring tents, swings, umbrellas or tables
- Regularly cleaning outdoor areas and keeping paths dry
Summertime is a great opportunity for breweries to grow their business. Managing this growth and keeping a safe operation can be a challenge though. First, breweries should be sure to consult with their insurance provider to ensure their operations don’t have any clear safety hazards. Then, brewery owners should take the time to walk through these safety steps with their teams. Enforcing a culture of safety and attention to detail on outdoor risks can help keep your staff and employees healthy while bringing in new business this summer.
Paul Martinez is program manager and insurance brewmaster for Brewery PAK Insurance Program. Martinez has 20+ years of commercial insurance experience and 10 years of experience underwriting breweries. He can be reached at
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