Free WHS Inspection (Restaurant) Template

Purpose of the Free WHS Inspection (Restaurant) Template

Running a restaurant involves managing a wide range of work health and safety risks, from the fast-paced kitchen to the busy front-of-house area. This Free WHS Inspection (Restaurant) Template provides a structured starting point for systematically identifying and controlling hazards unique to the hospitality environment.

Regular inspections help to prevent incidents like slips, trips, falls, burns, and musculoskeletal injuries before they occur.

Using a formal checklist helps ensure all key areas are reviewed consistently, from kitchen equipment and food storage to staff amenities and emergency exits. It provides a practical way to meet your duty of care and demonstrates a proactive approach to safety management.

Documenting these checks is crucial for identifying trends, assigning corrective actions, and maintaining a safe workplace. For daily checks on specific kitchen equipment, you may also find our Freezer Pre-Start Checklist useful.

How to use the Free WHS Inspection (Restaurant) Template

This template is designed to be a comprehensive but adaptable tool. Download the DOCX version to edit it directly, or use the PDF as a print-and-go solution.

The checklist is divided into logical sections such as Front of House, Kitchen (Back of House), Storage Areas, and Staff Facilities to guide a thorough walk-through of your premises.

Important: This is a general template aligned with Australian WHS principles. You must customise it to reflect the specific layout, equipment, tasks, and hazards present in your own restaurant.

We cannot guarantee its suitability for your circumstances without this customisation. Walk through your workplace and add, remove, or modify checklist items to ensure it is relevant.

For example, you might add checks for specific appliances, like those covered in our Blender Pre-Start Checklist, or for unique features of your venue.

The inspection process:

• Prepare: Schedule the inspection and inform relevant staff. Gather any previous inspection reports to review outstanding actions.
• Inspect: Walk through the premises, following the checklist sections. Visually check each item and speak with staff in each area to understand how tasks are performed and if they have any safety concerns.
• Record: Clearly note any hazards or non-conformances identified. Use the comments section to add detail, and take photos where appropriate.
• Report & Act: Assign corrective actions for each identified issue, including a responsible person and a due date. Ensure urgent hazards are controlled immediately.

When to use it

The frequency of inspections should be determined by a risk assessment. High-risk areas or activities may require more frequent checks than lower-risk ones. A typical schedule might include:

• Daily: Quick checks of high-traffic floor areas for slip/trip hazards, and pre-start checks on key kitchen equipment.
• Weekly: A more detailed inspection of kitchen hygiene, chemical storage, and fire safety equipment.
• Monthly: A comprehensive inspection covering all areas of the restaurant as detailed in this template.

Inspections should also be conducted after any incident or near miss, when new equipment is introduced, or when work processes change. These regular activities are a cornerstone of effective WHS management systems, providing vital data for continuous improvement.

Reviewing the completed checklists is as important as conducting them. This analysis helps identify recurring problems and measure the effectiveness of your safety controls. For an independent assessment of your safety processes, consider undertaking periodic WHS compliance auditing.

Who should use it

This inspection template is valuable for anyone with responsibility for safety in a restaurant environment. This includes:

• Restaurant Owners and Managers
• Venue Supervisors and Team Leaders
• Head Chefs and Kitchen Managers
• WHS/OHS Committee Members and Representatives

While a manager or supervisor typically leads the inspection, it is best practice to involve workers from the areas being inspected. Their direct experience provides invaluable insight into day-to-day hazards and the practicality of existing controls.

For organisations looking for expert support in establishing robust safety frameworks, our WHS consulting services can provide tailored guidance. You can also explore our complete collection of checklists and forms in our free WHS resources library to further develop your safety toolkit.