Safety Alert for Clubs

The incident was entirely preventable and highlights the vital role of training, risk management and supervision in keeping staff safe.

Key findings from the regulator included:

• No documented safe work procedure for refuelling
• Inadequate hazard identification and risk assessment
• Insufficient training and supervision of staff
• Manufacturer instructions not followed, including cooling time and correct refuelling equipment
• Burner was decorative only and not essential to operations.

Why This Matters for Clubs

Any venue using ethanol burners, fire features or other flammable decorative equipment carries an increased level of work health and safety obligations. 

Longstanding equipment can increase the risk factor even further. These elevated risks should be taken into consideration with their ongoing use when they are decorative and not essential equipment. 

Suggested Actions

• Identify any ethanol burners or open flame features on site
• Remove or decommission non-essential decorative burners where possible
• Ensure manufacturer instructions are available and strictly followed
• Develop and document safe work procedures
• Train and supervise staff, particularly new and young workers
• Conduct and record a formal risk assessment.

Decorative features are not worth lives. This incident reinforces that failure to manage known risks can result in devastating harm, prosecutions and significant penalties.

If you have any questions or would like support to strengthen compliance and safety practices, please contact the Hospitality Industry Insurance team at [email protected].