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MAY / JUNE . 2022 | VOL.25
Hydration at work
In ordinary situations, lapses in concentration
can lead to simple but harmless mistakes, but
in a busy kitchen, these errors of judgement
can be far more serious, especially when
working with hot liquids, sharp blades,
appliances, and heavy trays.
When you’re busy at work, especially in a
restaurant or café, it can be difficult to What’re the best means of providing on-
remember to drink enough water. Staying site hydration?
hydrated is one of the most important things you
can do to aid concentration at work. Dehydration Designated drinking water areas are proven to
can affect your cognitive and motor skills and encourage good drinking water habits.
become a serious health and safety issue. BWT Installing a water dispenser in these areas
explain more about the importance of hydration helps ensure staff can benefit from a cup of
and how to stay hydrated. water when needed and even fill a sports
bottle which can be stored conveniently by
Why is hydration important for those their workstation.
working in hospitality?
Modern water dispensers are safe, hygienic,
Busy restaurants and kitchens are notoriously cost-effective and convenient. Many models
dangerous places for the poorly trained and are offered with a variety of dispensing options
those not paying attention. In an environment and a choice of filtration. Ensuring that your
where staff are surrounded by slip hazards, cooler is supplied and installed by an
boiling water, sharp knives, hot surfaces and accredited Water Dispenser and Hydration
steam it is vitally important not to become Association (WHA) member such as BWT, helps
dehydrated and lose concentration. Whether to guarantee it is installed and maintained
working at pace in the front of the house or correctly.
hurrying behind the scenes in the kitchen it’s
easy to forget about drinking water. In Members of WHA are all subject to the WHA
hospitality, time is often of the essence and annual audit which ensures high standards are
unfortunately, that means, on occasions, maintained. Some water cooler models can be
employees miss or skip regular hydration supplied as 110 volts for added safety.
opportunities. Members ensure all equipment is PAT tested
prior to delivery, so you can be assured of
By law, employers must provide access to compliance with your health and safety
drinking water in the workplace. Scientists say requirements. With equipment able to be
that a loss of 1% of body mass due to installed at short notice and hire contracts
dehydration can impair performance. While even tailored to the industry, on-site hydration
low levels of dehydration can create headaches, needs can be scaled up and down when
lethargy, and a lack of alertness. necessary.
