Responsibility of Maintaining Health and Safety in Gaming Establishments

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed almost everything about our daily lives, and some of the biggest impacts have been felt by small businesses like gaming establishments. As Illinois gaming location owners and players continue to adjust to local and state regulations, there is a big question on everyone’s mind – who is responsible for maintaining health and safety in these establishments?

There’s only one answer to this question: everyone. Everyone is responsible for creating and maintaining a safe and healthy environment in Illinois gaming locations. This requires active teamwork and cooperation between owners, staff, and players. Here are a few tips to help you out.

Train and Retrain Your Staff

This is key. Your staff needs to be fully aware of any and all new sanitization and cleaning procedures. If you feel it is necessary, review basic hygiene protocols and establish clear hand-washing guidelines for your staff. Be sure to emphasize the importance of frequent cleaning and how if affects the possible spread of contaminants within your establishment. If you have added new curbside delivery services or new contactless payment systems, be sure your staff is comfortable with the procedures before sending them into the field with customers. If masks are required in your establishment, make sure your staff is informed on how to correctly wear a mask and the consequences of not wearing one. Also be sure to train employees on how to handle customers who refuse to wear a mask or will not follow new health safety rules.

Be Clear with Your Customers

Honesty is the best policy, especially in this scenario. To avoid confusing your customers with new rules and procedures, be sure to have any new guidelines or restrictions clearly posted in your establishment. Train your staff to explain why your establishment feels the need to implement these steps to any confused customers. Make sure your customers understand that by following the new guidelines, they are helping to make your establishment a safer environment for others. But most importantly, be firm about your new rules. If masks are required in your establishment, then make sure your customers are wearing their masks at the appropriate times. Not only will this set a good example for other customers, but it can also help you avoid fines from local or state authorities who are enforcing regulations. While it may feel easier to let your customers get away with breaking the rules every once in a while, in the long run it is better to make sure everyone is following the rules.

Emphasize Teamwork

Teamwork makes the dream work. If small businesses are going to get through this health crisis, they are going to need cooperation from their staff and customers. Loyal customers don’t want to see their favorite location’s fined or shut down due to negligence and lack of proper protocols. Make sure that your staff and customers know that by working together, they can help keep your establishment safe from another shutdown.

How are you dealing with changes from coronavirus? Let us know in the comments below!