Six out of 10 hospitality workers fear for their personal safety at work, according to a new survey.

The study by purchasing consortium Beacon, which spoke to 300 hospitality staff, found that 58% of workers thought safety was a concern, more than half of which (57%) worked in bars, pubs and restaurants.

The survey also found that 37% of bar, pub and restaurant workers had felt unsafe or threatened at some point in their career, while 38% of hotel staff complained of a similar experience.

John Vinuesa, director of Beacon, said: “Even when employers take steps to protect their staff, the nature of the industry means that late working hours and sometimes difficult customers are inevitable.”

A spokesman for electronics supplier City Electrical Factors said hospitality businesses were now looking at extra security measures.

“Personal attack buttons that can be placed under bars and by tills are growing in popularity. CCTV and door entry systems also act as a deterrent for troublemakers and as reassurance for employees,” he said
  
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Beacon website >>

By Tom Bill

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