How Safe Is Your Kitchen?

Did you know that kitchens are the most dangerous room in houses, hotels and restaurants?For many people, the kitchen is a well-loved part of the home. It is here family meals are lovingly prepared and family recipes are passed down the generations.It is also a place where accidents can occur easily if some common hazards are not recognised and addressed. This is pertinent for young children or the elderly and everyone in the household should play a role in maintaining safety in the kitchen.

Here are the common hazards you should be aware of:

Fires – This is one of the more obvious hazards since stoves and ovens are always lit with fires and yet, it’s one of the biggest accidents to happen in the kitchen! Long or loose fitting sleeves can catch a flame or perhaps have some drops of oil on the wrist area causing it to become a flammable torch rather than a protective barrier

How Fire Spreads In A Kitchen?

Burns – Burns and scalds come as minor and major injuries from every angle you turn in the kitchen. These are caused by boiling liquid droplets, a large spill of bubbling oil not to forget the steam that comes with covered pots and

Hazmats – Certain chemicals kept in the kitchen are hazardous.Some of these products are hand sanitisers, cleaning liquids, certain oils and pesticides that are used in the kitchen for obvious reasons but should they accidentally get mixed with food it could cause serious side effects.

Slips and falls – Oil, water and fat can end up on floor surfaces in a restaurant kitchen, which poses a slipping hazard. In the dish-washing area, water can drip from dishes and slosh from sinks.

Cooking gas - Gas stoves provide cooking flexibility, they emit chemicals that are harming your health. Studies have shown that gas stoves give off unhealthy levels of noxious combustible by-products. 

HOW TO BE SAFE IN THE KITCHEN

We share with you tips which are simple things to do, yet they can go a long way to ensure that the kitchen remains a safe environment for all members of the family.

1.Install non-slip flooring materials and mats to prevent employee or even your Loved ones at home from slipping if the floor becomes wet or slippery. Always clean floors immediately after a spill to reduce hazards.

2.Use sinks and cooking equipment that prevent water, oils and fats from escaping. Also, require employees to wear non-slip footwear designed for kitchen areas. Another hazard involving floors is uneven surfaces.

3.Install a small ramp over the uneven part of the floor to make a smooth transition or paint the uneven part of the floor with brightly colored paint to alert everyone to the danger of tripping.

4.While using cooking equipment with blades, such as knives or food processors, you should always wear cut-resistant gloves that cover your wrists and fit snugly. Warn your children of the hazards of actions such as sticking their fingers into certain equipment or allowing loose clothing to get caught in machinery.

5.Keep safety manuals for kitchen equipment in a designated place so that your loved ones can refer to them if they have any questions or concerns. Post signs to reminding everyone of hazards such as "Turn off machine before cleaning blades."

6.Always ensure that your gas storage facilities are properly turned off to prevent inhalation of harmful emissions from the leaked cooking gas.

7. Always ensure your Fire Extinguishers are filled up. They come in handy incase of kitchen fire outbreak

You can also install Inflammable Gas Detector and Automatic Manipulator to detect and alert you when there is a gas leak so that you can take necessary measures. Click here for more on Inflammable Gas Detector

8. Train your loved ones on various kitchen hazards,how to handle various kitchen equipment and on what to do in case of an accident.

How have you kept your Kitchen safe and conducive? Share with us your thoughts and Help keep other kitchens hazardous Free.