How to Prepare Your Restaurant for Health and Safety Inspections

Monty Gordon   –   24/10/2024  –   Pest Control

Running a restaurant in London means you’re familiar with the pressure of maintaining high standards during health and safety inspections. But preparing for an inspection doesn’t have to be a nightmare. This article will help you ensure your restaurant is ready for inspection, giving you peace of mind and safeguarding your business. We’ll dive into essential pest control practices, health and safety protocols, and proactive measures to impress inspectors.

Key Takeaways:

1. Pest control is critical in passing inspections and maintaining a healthy environment.

2.Following health and safety protocols can prevent fines and improve your restaurant’s reputation.

3.Consistent preparation is easier than crisis management during an unexpected inspection.

1. Health and Safety Protocols You Can’t Ignore

Beyond pest control, health and safety protocols are the backbone of a successful restaurant inspection. By following these rules, you protect both your customers and your business’s reputation.

Cleanliness: The First Line of Defence

Maintaining high levels of cleanliness is non-negotiable. Ensure kitchen surfaces, dining areas, and even storage rooms are kept spotless to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria.

Employee Hygiene: The Key to Food Safety

Your staff must adhere to strict hygiene practices. From handwashing to wearing proper uniforms, these small actions can prevent contamination and ensure you meet health standards.

Food Storage and Temperature Control

Improper food storage is a frequent reason for failed inspections. Make sure food is kept at safe temperatures and that storage areas are regularly checked for signs of spoilage or pest activity.

Waste Management: Keeping Your Restaurant Tidy

Pests thrive in poorly managed waste areas. Ensure your bins are sealed, emptied regularly, and positioned far from food preparation areas to reduce the risk of attracting unwanted visitors.

Quote From Ben - BioWise Surveyor

We’ve noticed that restaurants which regularly undergo internal inspections are far better prepared when the official health and safety inspection comes around. It’s the proactive measures—especially pest prevention—that make all the difference.” says Ben, a senior pest technician and surveyor at BioWise.

2. Inspection-Ready: How to Prepare Your Restaurant for an Inspection

Preparation is key when it comes to health and safety inspections. By following these steps, you can ensure your restaurant is inspection-ready at all times.

Conducting Your Own Internal Inspections

Performing regular internal inspections will help identify potential problems before the health inspector arrives. Create a checklist covering all areas of concern, from pest control to cleanliness.

Training Staff on Health and Safety Protocols

Your team is your first line of defence during an inspection. Provide them with regular training on the latest health and safety requirements, including pest prevention and food handling procedures.

Keeping Records and Documentation

Health inspectors will often ask to see records of past inspections, pest control reports, and employee training sessions. Keep these documents organised and easily accessible to avoid delays.

What to Do When an Inspector Arrives

Stay calm and guide the inspector through your restaurant with confidence. Be prepared to answer questions and demonstrate your knowledge of pest control, cleanliness, and safety protocols.

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the most common reasons restaurants fail health inspections?

The most common issues include poor cleanliness, improper food storage, and pest infestations. Restaurants that fail to maintain strict hygiene standards or ignore pest prevention measures are at higher risk.

2. How often should I schedule pest control for my restaurant?

It’s recommended to have professional pest control treatments at least quarterly. Regular inspections between treatments can catch potential problems early.

3. What pests are most commonly found in London restaurants?

Rodents, cockroaches, and flies are the most frequently reported pests in London restaurants. Preventative measures like sealing entry points and keeping food storage areas clean can help keep them at bay.

4. How can I prepare for an unannounced inspection?

The best way to prepare is by conducting your own internal inspections regularly. Ensure cleanliness, proper food storage, and pest control are all up to standard at all times.

5. Can pest control services help with compliance for health inspections?

Yes, a pest control London service can help ensure that your restaurant meets all necessary pest management regulations, which is crucial during inspections.

6. What should I do if pests are spotted during an inspection?

If pests are found, address the issue immediately. Call a commercial pest control company for urgent pest removal and work with them to implement long-term solutions to prevent future infestations.

Why Choose BioWise

BioWise are a family run pest control business that services over 500 restaurants, hotels, pubs, offices and private homes across the UK

Tim DelaneyTim Delaney
18:49 18 Sep 24
Took Biowise on, for a group of Steakhouses, about 11yrs ago, never looked back. Erv and his team are the best in the business, Proactive, communicative and they don’t mess around!Would recommend all day long…
Emanuele SerraEmanuele Serra
11:19 21 Aug 24
Fantastic work over the past months from Ben N! Really had an impact on our pest control, we could not be happier! Keep up the good work! 💪
Rachael WahlRachael Wahl
13:02 20 Aug 24
Have been dealing with Ben N, for a year now, and it’s always a pleasure . He has a friendly demeanor and always on the job! Great working with him as always!
Tessa AvisTessa Avis
11:09 14 Aug 24
Very happy with the customer care provided by Ben, super friendly and reliable! Always on time and happy to help with any issues.
Theclassroom n7Theclassroom n7
11:04 14 Aug 24
Biowise have been amazing with our pest control here Ben from the team has been looking after us since we opened our doors 3 years ago he’s very informative when asking him questions and he always give good advice and suggestions
Stanislaw WroblickiStanislaw Wroblicki
07:36 14 Aug 24
Great service. Fully professional and reliable
JonJon
14:08 09 Aug 24
Great service from Ben N. Helping our locations for months now and always great service all the time
Daniel ClarkeDaniel Clarke
10:24 08 Aug 24
We have been using Biowise for over 2 years now. We have Ben N as our site controller. His very vigiliant, detailed, honest and reliable. He provides us with top quality service.
Giulio CorvoGiulio Corvo
07:43 08 Aug 24
Well done, Ben is available and really kind in explaining to me everything I needed to knowadvise
Zafar ShirzadZafar Shirzad
13:58 07 Aug 24
Ben N. has been a regular at our café for the past two years, and his service as a technician is always outstanding. He is highly skilled, professional, and brings a positive attitude to every interaction. His dedication to excellence and attention to detail make him a valued member of our community. I highly recommend Ben N. for his technical expertise and exceptional customer service.
Antonio PirilloAntonio Pirillo
09:29 03 Aug 24
Great experience. Frankie was very professional and a genuinely great guy. Would recommend!!
J FJ F
14:38 02 Aug 24
We use Biowise across our London Portfolio for all things pest related. Ben N is highly professional and deals with any issues we have, in a prompt and efficient matter. Thank You Ben
Jack GreenJack Green
10:22 02 Aug 24
We have worked with BioWise for several years now, I would recommend them to anyone. The engineers are always helpful, friendly and respectful while working around our site. Ben N is our current engineer and has been for over a year now, he is very helpful and knowledgeable and does a fantastic job.
Tipu SulthanTipu Sulthan
06:07 02 Aug 24
Highly recommend biowise. Great team and work ethics! Ben is always polite and on time.Couldn’t recommend enough.
Steve RandallSteve Randall
12:11 01 Aug 24
Biowise have eliminated our pest problem completely over the past few years and I would highly recommend their great service, pricing and engineers to anyone. Ben N is the engineer that looks after our site, very polite, punctual and thorough.Thanks guys 👍
alex andraalex andra
11:12 08 May 24
I would highly recommend this company, very happy with the results. Everyone is very professional, helpful and extremely prompt with any questions you might have. Special mention to Nadia and Ben, they are great and so helpful, I couldn’t be happier !
Migena KaraiMigena Karai
18:55 15 Jan 24
Best company, great service.Enea was a very professional and kind and he did very very good job.
Ledina KaraiLedina Karai
00:37 02 Jan 24
Excellent work done from Enea,very happy with the resultsThank you!!
Marco PalomboMarco Palombo
17:17 23 Dec 23
Very good experience with them since the beginning, fair prices, always helpful. Special mention to Ben who was always responsive and delivered what he said. Strongly recommended
Henry RyanHenry Ryan
10:38 22 Dec 23
Ben has always done a great job with us and has certainly improved the pest situation. Always professional and generally good guy
Russell ClarkeRussell Clarke
19:38 21 Dec 23
Excellent quality work done by Matthew, would definitely recommend this company.
Karolina PetkutėKarolina Petkutė
17:07 21 Dec 23
Had a pleasure of working with BioWise for good few months, and the experience was excellent! If you get to work with Ben count yourself lucky – very professional, responsive and efficient. Bonus points that he’s also very personable and enjoys a good chat. Would highly recommend!
Pedro LourençoPedro Lourenço
15:20 21 Dec 23
I’ve been working with Ben since Jan when I start managing at Notting Hill Coffee Project and I have to say he is by far the best I’ve worked across my hospitality experience. His due diligence, great communication and always in good mood (hence why staff likes him so much). But the feature I appreciate the most it is his good will, he has help me with two issue that had notting to do with his duties, including spotting a leak in my boiler and made enough pic and videos so i can send to the supplier. It’s a 5 Star!
Jake AllenJake Allen
14:32 21 Dec 23
Extremley professional, friendly and courtious. Extremeley effective and helpful.
Donal O BrienDonal O Brien
17:31 20 Dec 23
Ben Dunn has been looking after our business for a while now and I couldn’t speak more highly of him. Always professional and never lets us down. Having worked with numerous pest control companies in the past I can easily say Ben has outdone himself. Highly recommend
Jodie SmartJodie Smart
16:38 20 Dec 23
This company is professional and friendly, extremely efficient and our operator Ben Dunn especially goes above and beyond and his visits are always a pleasure. Highly recommended 🙂
Rumyana DaskalovaRumyana Daskalova
13:58 20 Dec 23
Matt is the best! Great service, very helpful and always polite
alexandraalexandra
20:47 19 Dec 23
Ben Dunn is friendly, reliable and very professional. Would highly recommend.
Catarina CamiloCatarina Camilo
17:54 19 Dec 23
I am thrilled to share my positive experience with BioWise, a company that truly exceeded my expectations. After a disappointing encounter with a previous company that left my house in shambles for four weeks, I was understandably stressed, especially being pregnant. However, BioWise turned what was once a nightmare into a stress-free journey.From the initial conversation with Ana, it was evident that BioWise values customer satisfaction. Ana’s warm and professional demeanour immediately put me at ease, making me feel confident that my home was in capable hands. The transparency and communication throughout this process has been commendable, addressing my concerns and outlining a plan to restore my house.Rajmond is the skilled technician assigned to the job. His expertise and attention to detail have been apparent from the start. Working on the interior wall insulation, painting, and fixing wardrobe rails and drawers, Rajmond showcased a level of precision and commitment that was truly commendable. The transformation in my room is nothing short of remarkable.What impresses me most about BioWise is their dedication to ensuring a high standard of work. I am genuinely grateful for the professionalism and efficiency displayed by the BioWise team, and I couldn’t be more appreciative of the positive impact they’ve had on my home. I wholeheartedly recommend BioWise to anyone seeking reliable and top-notch maintenance services.
Joanna CzyzowskaJoanna Czyzowska
15:25 19 Dec 23
BioWise is very proffesional people and they doing an amazing job every single visit. Every time they are taking immediate action to fix the issue 👏 it’s pleasure to cooperate with company like this . Thank you for your commitment
Piotr WronaPiotr Wrona
10:30 19 Dec 23
Ben it’s has been a super star for the last couple of years servicing our restaurant in soho. Thank you for good service!Happy Xmas
Amin SaalAmin Saal
01:58 19 Dec 23
I’ve been using their services for 2 years and it has been a great experience. Professional, experienced and responsive, especially Enea and Matt who make you feel you are in safe hands. Highly recommend their services.
Baiba BušmaneBaiba Bušmane
20:14 18 Dec 23
We use Biowise for our Pub in Northampton Town Centre. We have worked with Matt for a while and it’s been a very positive and lovely experience. There’s never been any issues with receiving reports on time or getting in touch with someone in emergencies if needed. Response has always been quick and issues dealt with in a very professional and timely manner. Couldn’t recommend someone more 🙂
Siobhan QuirkSiobhan Quirk
19:42 18 Dec 23
10/10 investigations and service from Ben Dunn at BioWise as usual! Has done a number of jobs for us over the past few months and is always on time, professional and goes above and beyond to sort out any issues! Will highly recommend BioWise for any pest control needs! Thanks Ben!
Alberto KurtiAlberto Kurti
17:41 18 Dec 23
Very happy with the service from BioWise. Over the years they have been extremely reliable. Their technicians, especially Enea is always punctual and goes above. Thank you guys!
Michelle PeltierMichelle Peltier
13:53 18 Dec 23
Ben at Biowise comes to carry out checks every month and does a really thorough job. He never misses an appointment and is always happy, bright, bubbly and professional. I would defiantly recommend Ben for any pest control needs.
78sulaco78sulaco
13:23 18 Dec 23
An exceptional company with exceptional standards with family run approach and attention to detail. Technician Ben always goes above and beyond and nothing is ever too much. Ben is a true asset to the company. Keep up the good work. Biowise A++
Harmony N10Harmony N10
21:04 13 Dec 23
BioWise service our venue, we couldn’t be any happier and highly recommend their service to any establishment considering their services.
Gulshon DadralGulshon Dadral
18:09 13 Dec 23
I met Mat from Biowise about 2 years ago whilst having major problems with pests etc I got him in and he sorted the problem out fully. I have since got them to do other sites I look after and the difference is immeasurable ! Great company with great people, hardly surprising they are doing well!
tiaesha hawkinstiaesha hawkins
15:09 13 Dec 23
matt was excellent at helping me with my wasps nest. he had a great plan and it worked first time round outstanding performance also !
Edouard SaulEdouard Saul
13:33 07 Dec 23
Ben has always been good but a few points do put him over others we have used in the past.He is extremely conscientious of both guests (in that he doesn’t go traipsing through the restaurant but rather waits outside to give me a wave if anything needs to be actioned or reported), staff (one of the rare people who speaks with the team to find out issues rather than just walking around) and timing (an awareness of service and when is appropriate to arrive for an inspection).I have also always been able to get in touch with him personally should I have questions/issues rather than having to go through HO or waiting for call backs.There are very few reasons I ever leave reviews online however the pro-active/ personal/ courteous and ever friendly service Ben provides is something I found is slowly being lost nowadays and is the reason we have stayed with the same company for so long as a business.The only reason I am leaving 5 stars is due to there not being a 6th star to add.
A Google User
A Google User
13:33 07 Dec 23
Ben has always been good but a few points do put him over others we have used in the past.He is extremely conscientious of both guests (in that he doesn’t go traipsing through the restaurant but rather waits outside to give me a wave if anything needs to be actioned or reported), staff (one of the rare people who speaks with the team to find out issues rather than just walking around) and timing (an awareness of service and when is appropriate to arrive for an inspection).I have also always been able to get in touch with him personally should I have questions/issues rather than having to go through HO or waiting for call backs.There are very few reasons I ever leave reviews online however the pro-active/ personal/ courteous and ever friendly service Ben provides is something I found is slowly being lost nowadays and is the reason we have stayed with the same company for so long as a business.The only reason I am leaving 5 stars is due to there not being a 6th star to add.
Jason MurrayJason Murray
16:51 06 Dec 23
Ben has been great and consistent on delivering a great service.His attention to detail and commitment to excellence plays an important role to the business on keeping the standards high. Would recommend Ben to other businesses in needing this type of service.
taste of india Eustontaste of india Euston
15:29 06 Dec 23
Have using biowise since 2014 and Ben has been great and very helpful, very professional in his job .
Ryan CarrRyan Carr
11:38 06 Dec 23
Fantastic service. Very attentive technicians. Ben and Enea are always on the ball.
quto Yucequto Yuce
09:24 06 Dec 23
Most helpful company I’ve worked with; Our officer Enea is efficient and professional as well as being a cool dude 🙂
AAKASH PRASADAAKASH PRASAD
15:19 05 Dec 23
I would recommend BIOWISE as the best pest control service provider in London….Ben has been working with us for quite a long time and his services are one of the best. He addresses all the problems in a professional and in a efficient manner.Thanks a lot BEN for your service!!!!
Rachael WahlRachael Wahl
14:12 05 Dec 23
I have been working with Ben Dunn from Biowise since August, and he has been an absolute delight, he is always checking in with me and the building I run at Bob W and always finds the time to pop in should I call him at the very last minute, he always offers to help in other avenues of the building especially when I have a lot on my plate.. I really appreciate his work ethic and responsibility toward the building when it comes to pest control, besides all that, always attends the building with a soda for me, which is really kind 🙂 Thaaaaanks Ben! You are the best!
Alex ElpidaAlex Elpida
20:13 23 Nov 23
The manager Erviol was so helpful and eager to answer all my questions and inspect my place thoroughly. He is so professional and has been 15 years in his job. I was really reassured and felt supported in such difficult situation when you think you have infestation. I would like to thank him and the team so much!
Sam ClarkeSam Clarke
12:37 29 Mar 23
Highly recommended.The service was amazing, came out the same day and gave me a lot of information and got rid of my mice problem on the first go. The staff are so friendly and they offered a follow up appointment to check everything over. Ana was who I spoke to and she was so kind (even tho it was 11pm) and Ben came and done the job next morning and he went above to make sure I was ok and to get the job done right. Biowise is amazing and I wouldn’t go anywhere else for pest control!!!!
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We Service London

BioWise was founded in 2010 by Ana and Erviol and we have slowly expanded our team as the business has grown.

We operate numerous commercial pest control contracts across London. In areas such as Mayfair, Islington, Soho, Chelsea, Marylebone and The West End.

BioWise were honoured to be awarded Most Trustworthy Family-Run Pest Control Enterprise South Easy England 2024

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