The service of hot beverages from a restaurant safety expert aspect will always present challenges for restaurateurs to insure their patrons are not accidently burned. Whether it is serving hot coffee at a table or giving a customer a cup of hot tea or cocoa to take out, it is important that servers, counter persons and drive-thru attendants are mindful these beverages are very hot and someone could get burned. There are two recent lawsuits that serve as reminders that you should check your “daily service procedures for children” and the “types of take-out containers” you use to serve hot beverages from a restaurant safety expert standpoint. In the one case, a young child was given hot coffee to take to her grandmother. While in the second, the type of cup used at the drive-thru is coming under scrutiny. Ask these 4 simple questions as part of your restaurant business planning and oversight to insure hot beverages are served safely: Do table servers reach over customers with a pot when pouring hot coffee or do they remove the cup from the table first and then pour in the coffee and what procedure is best for your operation? Are staff members trained to place hot tea pots away from children and on a stable surface if restaurant service procedures require they leave a pot at the table, such as on a lazy susan? When serving hot beverages for take-out or at the drive-thru, does the attendant always check that the lid is secure before handing it to the customer? Have personnel checked that take-out serving cups have not been mishandled, crushed or bent during delivery and storage to insure the containers are safe to use? There is also a restaurant troubleshooting resource available here on how to properly train staff, especially younger employees, on handling hot foods and beverages. Or, if you are an owner or operator and need additional training materials by a restaurant safety expert for your operation, please contact me. I have access to a number of no-cost industry publications that will help your staff members prevent burns and keep customers and employees happy.
