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The hotel, restaurant and catering (HORECA) sector is one of the fastest growing in Europe. In 2004 more than 7.8 million people were employed (Eurostat, 2005) and the sector generated more than € 338 billion turnover (Eurofound, 2005). It consists mainly of restaurants and bars, which account for three quarters of the jobs. Other employers in the sector include camping sites, youth hostels and canteens. The overwhelming majority of businesses are small, employing less than 10 people. Women make up a little over half of the workforce. (Eurofound 2005: 'Hotels and catering - policies, issues and the future')
Jobs tend to be temporary, with irregular hours, low pay and few career prospects. There is a high proportion of young people working in the sector.
Characteristics of the HORECA sector which can have a negative impact on occupational safety and health (OSH) are:
- heavy workloads
- prolonged standing and static postures
- contact with (sometimes difficult) customers
- high levels of evening and weekend working, which disrupt an employee's work-life balance
- high levels of stress
- monotonous work
- harassment and even violence from customers, colleagues and employers
- discrimination against women and people from other countries.
What can I do?
- How can I prevent accidents and promote workplace health?
- What can I learn from successful good practice examples?
- Read more about employment, working conditions and HORECA workers exposure to hazards and health risks in the EU Member states.
- Agency publications in the HORECA sector
NL- Standing, kneeling and squatting at work – health-based limit values ()In the present report, at the request of the Minister of Social Affairs and Employment, the Health Council of the Netherlands has investigated whether at the present time there are any new scientific insights concerning health-based or safety-based limit values for work performed while standing, kneeling or squatting. |
Innovative solutions to safety and health risks in the construction, healthcare and HORECA sectors ()
One conclusion from the EU-OSHA economic incentives project is that incentives schemes should not only reward past results of good OSH management (such as accident numbers in experience rating), but should also reward specific prevention efforts that aim to reduce future accidents and ill-health. Experts from the economic incentives project therefore suggested the development of compilations of innovative and evidence-based preventive solutions, starting with the three sectors construction, health care and HORECA (hotels, restaurants, catering). The preventive measures from these compilations are worth promoting in their own right, as well as being applied in economic incentives schemes. These preventive solutions can be used as a basis for incentive-providing organisations to develop their own incentive scheme, adapted to the specific situation in their sector and country.
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How to create economic incentives in occupational safety and health: A practical guide ()
This Guide on Economic Incentives Schemes is intended to serve as a practical and user-friendly guide to help incentive providers to create or optimise their own economic incentive schemes. Incentives schemes should not only reward past results of good OSH management (such as low accident numbers), but should also reward specific prevention efforts that aim to reduce future accidents and ill-health. Therefore the expert group suggested the development of compilations of innovative and evidence-based preventive solutions, starting with the three sectors construction, health care and HORECA.
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UK - HSE, Frequently asked questions – catering and hospitality ()The UK Health and Safety Executive has published online a range of ‘frequently asked questions’ on health and safety issues relating to catering operations. |
ETUI seeks a researcher in ergonomics and working conditions ()Opening for a researcher in ergonomics and working conditions |
UK-The burden of occupational cancer in Great Britain ()Occupational cancer in Britain |
Women in Horeca ()Hotel industry: accidents abound, especially among cleaners |
EU-Passive smoking at work - ETUC reply to a consultation on the protection of workers exposed to environmental tobacco smoke ()According to the data available, the number of workers exposed is
approximately 7.5 million across the European Union. The impact of this
situation on their health is worrying. Passive smoking involves an
increased risk of lung cancer, cardiovascular mortality and respiratory
diseases. It also causes many problems with reproductive health. The
scientific literature associates it with sudden infant death syndrome,
various health problems in children, low birth weight, etc. Certain
sectors are particularly exposed, notably in the restaurant and hotel
industries. For more information, click here |
UK - HSE, Pub risk assessment examples ()This example risk assessment shows the kind of approach a small business might take. It can be used as a guide to think through some of the hazards in your business and the steps you need to take to control the risks. Please note that it is not a generic risk assessment that you can just put your company name on and adopt wholesale without any thought. This would not satisfy the law - and would not be effective in protecting people. Every business is different - you need to think through the hazards and controls required in your business for yourself. Read moreYou may download the template for risks assessment
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- Publications
Innovative solutions to safety and health risks in the construction, healthcare and HORECA sectors
- News
- NL- Standing, kneeling and squatting at work – health-based limit values 13.01.2012
- Innovative solutions to safety and health risks in the construction, healthcare and HORECA sectors 21.12.2011
- How to create economic incentives in occupational safety and health: A practical guide 21.12.2011
- UK - HSE, Frequently asked questions – catering and hospitality 26.09.2011
- ETUI seeks a researcher in ergonomics and working conditions 04.11.2010
