Pizzerias Prioritize Slip-and-Fall Prevention

Proactive steps reduce accidents, injuries, and liability for restaurant owners

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Pizzeria owners are taking slip-and-fall prevention seriously to protect staff, customers, and their bottom line. Between spilled drinks, flour dust, oily pans, and wet entryways, pizzerias face many potential hazards that can lead to dangerous falls. Experts recommend partnering with insurance providers, safety consultants, and restaurant consultants to identify risks, implement preventive measures, and train staff on best practices. Proper floor care, signage, lighting, and employee policies can go a long way in reducing slip-and-fall incidents and the resulting injuries, damage, and liability.

Why it matters

Slip-and-fall accidents are the most common injuries in restaurants, and they're usually preventable. Customers and staff equate safety with professionalism, so any unsafe environment can damage trust and a restaurant's reputation. These accidents also disrupt operations, burden employees, and open businesses up to potential lawsuits from both customers and staff.

The details

Pizzeria owners should review their front and back of house for potential slip and fall risks, including kitchens, dining rooms, entryways, and restrooms. Common preventive measures include decluttering walkways, using slip-resistant mats, maintaining even flooring, cleaning up spills immediately, posting wet floor signs, ensuring proper lighting, requiring non-slip shoes for staff, and taping down electrical cords. Restaurants should also train employees on spill response, proper floor cleaning techniques, and how to spot and report safety hazards. Routine inspections and prompt repairs of any issues are also crucial.

  • Slip-and-fall accidents can happen at any time, but are more common during inclement weather when customers track in water, snow, mud, or wet leaves.

The players

Sojin Thompson

Owner of Heard Consulting, a firm that provides safety policy templates and inspection checklists to help restaurants mitigate slip-and-fall risks.

Zack O'Connor

Senior vice president at Fort George, a pizzeria and brewery in Astoria, Oregon, who leads the company's safety committee and human resources.

Nikki Haebler

Owner and Certified Safety Professional at Safety Northwest, a Portland-based consulting firm that helps restaurants comply with OSHA safety requirements.

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What they’re saying

“They're the most common injury in a restaurant, and they're usually preventable.”

— Sojin Thompson, Owner, Heard Consulting (Pizza Today)

“There's nothing good that comes out of a workplace injury ever, full stop. Having to help people navigate a confusing and tedious claims process, the disruptions to employees' schedules, the additional burdens on our coworkers who have to pick up the slack. Transitional work assignments are frustrating.”

— Zack O'Connor, Senior Vice President, Fort George (Pizza Today)

“If you're doing everything right, then it's always a good idea to speak with your underwriter and your insurance agent to help reduce the cost of your workers' comp plan.”

— Nikki Haebler, Owner and Certified Safety Professional, Safety Northwest (Pizza Today)

What’s next

Pizzeria owners should continue to work closely with their insurance providers, safety consultants, and restaurant industry experts to identify and address any remaining slip-and-fall risks in their establishments.

The takeaway

Prioritizing slip-and-fall prevention through proactive measures, staff training, and a safety-focused culture can help pizzeria owners protect their employees, customers, and business from the costly impacts of these common accidents.