Texas Border Business
By Roberto Hugo González / Texas Border Business
WASHINGTON — The National Restaurant Association has released a new resource to help restaurant owners and employees prepare for, respond to, and recover from public safety incidents.
The guide, “Always Ready: Public Safety,” addresses risks ranging from robberies and customer altercations to break-ins and active threats. It provides restaurant operators with practical steps to identify vulnerabilities, strengthen security, train employees, and establish emergency procedures.
“For restaurant operators, safety preparedness is good business,” said Michelle Korsmo, president and CEO of the National Restaurant Association. She added that having a plan helps operators make informed decisions during fast-moving, potentially volatile situations.
The guide is organized into three phases: preparation, management, and recovery. It recommends that restaurants assess vulnerabilities and train employees before an incident; prioritize life safety, communication, and coordination with first responders during an emergency; and afterward support employees and guests, document the incident, work with insurers and authorities, and safely restore operations.
The resource also addresses crisis communications, insurance considerations, recovery planning, and long-term reputation management.
“Always Ready: Public Safety” is the fifth publication in the association’s Always Ready preparedness series. The collection also offers restaurant-specific guidance for utility disruptions, foodborne illness outbreaks, fires, and natural disasters.
To download the new guide and explore the full series, visit the Always Ready resource library.
