Water on the Floor Beside a Vending Machine: Report It Safely
Water beside a vending machine needs attention even when the machine still appears to work. It may be a spill or a fault, but a customer or untrained site employee should not diagnose it by reaching behind the cabinet or touching electrical equipment.
Keep people away from the wet area
Tell the site manager immediately and follow the site’s process for making the area safe. Keep customers away without blocking escape routes. The HSA identifies electricity as a workplace hazard; water can increase the danger around electrical equipment. Do not touch plugs, sockets or the cabinet while standing in water, and do not ask a cleaner to investigate electrical parts.
Report observations rather than a diagnosis
Record the machine location, time noticed and approximate extent of the water from a safe position. Mention whether a drink has visibly spilled, whether nearby plumbing is involved, and whether any unusual smell or sound was noticed. Do not claim the refrigeration system is leaking unless a competent person has established that. Photographs should show the area without requiring someone to enter it.
Use the agreed escalation route
Contact the vending operator and the person responsible for building facilities. Electrical isolation or technical investigation must follow the site’s procedure and be handled by an authorised competent person. If there is smoke, fire or immediate danger, follow emergency arrangements. Do not keep operating the machine to see whether the puddle gets larger.
Reopen only after the cause is addressed
Cleaning up visible water is not the same as resolving its source. Record who assessed the machine, what action was taken and whether it is authorised to return to use. Check that the floor is safe and customer notices are updated. Keep the report with the service history so a repeat occurrence can be recognised and investigated properly.
Source: supporting primary guidance. For site-specific help, explore our fully managed vending service or contact our team. Related reading: Vending Support: Does Response Time Mean Repair Time?.