What are the general duties of someone who works in a restaurant, cafe, or similar job that involves serving food to the public? The duties of servers, table wait staff, hostesses, bus-boys, and other food and hospitality personnel vary according to the workplace.
The duties of servers, table wait staff, hostesses, bus-boys, and other food and hospitality personnel vary according to the workplace.
Some of the main duties of servers in restaurants, bars, cafes/coffee shops, fast food restaurants, cafeterias, food trucks, or other locations that serve food to customers include:
Please also see the occupational profile about cooks, as other health and safety hazards may be present if the server spends time in the kitchen or cooking area.
duty Greet customers.
duty Provide customers with information about the meals, including the ingredients in each meal to assist with dietary needs/restrictions, etc.
duty Take orders and relay them to the kitchen and bar staff. Provide necessary information to those preparing the food.
duty Maintain food and kitchen hygiene.
duty Carry and serve food, drinks and meals to customers.
duty Prepare bills and process payment methods.
duty Work with computers and other electronic devices.
duty Clean up the tables or the kitchen.
duty Be aware of customer actions while on the premises (e.g., be alert to potential issues or acts of theft).
Work environments such as restaurants, hotels and bars, where food and beverages are served, present a unique set of hazards.
The main health and safety issues for servers include:
general Food and kitchen hygiene.
general Standing or walking for long hours.
ergonomic Lifting or carrying heavy trays.
general Risk of burns from dishes, meals, or drinks that are hot.
ergonomic Repetitive manual tasks or working in awkward positions.
ergonomic Risk of back injury from pushing, pulling or lifting objects.
safety Injuries from sharp objects, knives, scissors, blades, box cutters, etc.
chemical Exposure to various chemicals, which may include paints, solvents, pesticides, perfumes, or cleaning products.
physical Noise exposure.
general Indoor air quality.
safety Slips, trips and falls.
psychosocial Dealing with difficult or potentially violent customers.Working alone.
general Handling money.
psychosocial Bullying.
psychosocial Stress.
safety Fire or other emergencies.
psychosocial Fatigue or other health effects of shift work or extended work days.
biological Exposure to common viruses such as colds, seasonal influenza, and coronavirus.
requirement Establish good hygiene practices.
requirement Wash your hands frequently using soap and water, especially before eating, drinking, or smoking, or after using the toilet, and at the beginning and end of the day.
requirement Avoid touching the eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
administrative Learn safe lifting procedures.
administrative Learn fire safety and emergency evacuation procedures, including how to assist customers during evacuation.
requirement Learn how to use equipment and tools safely.
requirement Avoid awkward body positions and take frequent breaks.
ppe Wear appropriate footwear with non-skid soles.
ppe Wear appropriate personal protective equipment and apparel for the task.
requirement Keep all work areas clear of clutter.
administrative Establish good housekeeping practices.
administrative Learn safe handling and storage procedures before working with hazardous products and consumer chemical products.
requirement Know how to react in a negative or violent situation.
administrative Learn and follow the organization’s violence and harassment prevention policy and procedures.
requirement Do not exceed the capacity of the shelves when storing food or supplies.
requirement Do not block fire exits and fire extinguishers.
requirement Keep a first aid kit/box within easy access.
requirement Know where the first-aid kit is located and how to contact first-aid responders.
administrative Know how to report hazards.
administrative Participate in Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) education and training.
requirement Follow labels and read the safety data sheet (SDS) for any hazardous product you use and follow recommended safety precautions.
requirement Practice safe lifting.
requirement Find ways to minimize musculoskeletal disorders on the job.
administrative Inspect the work area before each shift.
requirement Exercise caution when working with knives and other sharp equipment.
requirement Follow company safety rules.
requirement Work safely with chemicals according to recommended practices.
ppe Select the correct personal protective equipment. Use, maintain and store it according to the manufacturer's recommendations.
requirement Keep a mobile phone or other alternative means to contact a designated person when working alone.
administrative Know how to report a hazard and a near miss.
administrative Follow good housekeeping procedures.
requirement Use hand washing to reduce the risk of common infections.
requirement Fact sheet first published: 2018-02-14
// Portal
Biological
Notes for this occupation. Open one to read the practices and the protection it calls for.