Spills in a quick serve restaurant (QSR) demand immediate attention. Whether they happen in the kitchen, behind the counter, or in the dining area, spills are more than a messy inconvenience. They create dangerous slip and fall conditions for both employees and guests.

The National Floor Safety Institute finds that more than three million food service workers and one million guests suffer injuries due to slips and falls each year. They estimate that the foodservice industry spends more than $2 billion each year on these injuries with those costs rising by 10% each year.

Well-designed spill response protocols protect employees, customers, and insurance rates. But not every spill response is created equal. Does your team have the tools they need to remove spills quickly and completely?

Basic Spill Cleanup

There are several ways to contain and clean a spill. Some methods are better than others, but all follow the same basic steps. After the accident an employee must contain the area with Wet Floor signs and direct people away from the mess. They then need to carefully pick up glass or large debris before removing the spill and drying the floor. Only after the floor is fully dry should employees remove the Wet Floor signs and allow traffic through.

Tools to remove the spill and dry the floor run the gamut. In a rush to contain the accident employees may throw a stack of paper napkins on the mess. Some QSRs invest in a spill kit containing towels and absorbent granules. Others might rely on a trusty, old mop and bucket.

None of these options are great.

Napkins are expensive, inefficient, and leave floors sticky. Spill kits are better, but only if the kit is fully stocked. Nothing is worse than reaching for a spill kit in an emergency and finding out there are not enough granules to get the job done. And mops cannot remove a spill, but they are great at spreading the mess around, leaving even more of the floor wet, slippery, and dangerous.

Better Spill Cleanup for QSRs

The UniVac® from Kaivac offers better spill response. With this technology employees place just the right amount of cleaning solution on the mess, agitate with a speed spreader to lift sticky substances, and vacuum the entire spill away. The floor is clean, dry, and ready to walk on in minutes.

The UniVac handles spills in any part of the restaurant. It’s small enough to maneuver around counters and seating areas. The tool’s wand reaches all the way under booths, tables, and kitchen equipment.

And, of course, the UniVac cleans more than spills. It is the floor maintenance tool of choice for savvy Quick Serve Restaurant owners. Employees quickly remove dirt and stubborn grease from kitchens, restrooms, and dining areas. Closing cleanup is so fast and complete, workers can focus on higher-value tasks or just clock out early.

Ready to learn more about how the UniVac saves QSRs time, money, and effort while keeping floors clean and safe? Contact Kaivac today.