Health, Safety and Duty of Care
The duty of care
A licensee owes a duty of care to customers, staff, and the public. This includes maintaining safe premises, managing crowds, preventing slips and trips, ensuring adequate lighting and exits, and providing trained staff. Candidates must understand the interaction between licensing law, health and safety legislation, and fire safety requirements, and know that the duty of care continues after a customer leaves - for example, ensuring an intoxicated person is not left in a dangerous situation.
Specific hazards
Know the risks associated with glassware, spillages, crowded areas, and smoking areas. Understand the requirement for first aid provision, accident recording, and emergency procedures. Be aware of the particular vulnerability of intoxicated customers to injury, assault, and drowning, and of the need to monitor lone or distressed customers.
Traps to watch
A common trap is assuming duty of care ends at the door. Another is believing that a signed disclaimer or a 'drink responsibly' poster discharges the duty. Watch for questions that treat fire safety and licensing as separate - they are enforced together, and a breach can affect the licence.
Rule of thumb
Ask: if this customer left now, would I be satisfied they were safe? If not, act before they leave.