07 Jan 5 Tips for Preventing Fires in Commercial Kitchens
“It took four years to build up, and just a few minutes to turn to ash.”
That’s how Masterchef Sarah Todd describes what happened to her restaurant. The sad thing is it can happen to anyone who runs a commercial kitchen. By design, there are a lot of things in a commercial kitchen (e.g. cooking equipment) that can lead to a catastrophic fire.
This is why you need to take fire prevention seriously if you’re a restaurateur or in the food production business. That being said, let’s talk about some of the best tips for preventing fires in a commercial kitchen.
1. Pay Attention to All Electrical Equipment
Well-maintained electrical appliances are less likely to become a fire hazard. Especially with old equipment, you’ll want your kitchen staff to be vigilant and report if they see noticeable damage.
Remember, frequent usage can wear down the wiring, cords, etc., so check your kitchen equipment often and know when to repair or buy new items. You should also have a professional check for electrical issues on a regular basis.
w items. You should also have a professional check for electrical issues on a regular basis.
2. Clean Up Grease
A busy kitchen means grease, which could build up and get on walls, fryers, exhaust hood systems, and so on. As you know, grease is a highly flammable substance so you should minimise its presence in your kitchen.
Aside from cleaning grease-exposed surfaces of the kitchen every day, don’t forget those hard to reach areas. These will include your exhaust system, which can get clogged with oil and grease.
3. Make Sure Your Sprinkler System Works
Ensuring that a commercial kitchen fire doesn’t get out of control is also part of a good fire prevention plan.
You don’t want your sprinkler system to malfunction when you need it the most. Get a professional to inspect your sprinkler system from time to time and have it repaired if needed.
4. Consider Getting Backup Fire Extinguishers
In addition to maintaining your automatic sprinkler system, train your kitchen staff so they know how to use a fire extinguisher.
Also, depending on the size of your kitchen, you may want to get more fire extinguishers just to be on the safe side.
5. Prepare an Escape Plan
Despite your best efforts, a fire could still happen in your commercial kitchen. This is where fire safety training comes in.
Aside from learning how to extinguish small fires, you and your staff will be fully trained about fire safety issues in your workplace, and be able to initiate corrective actions in the event of a fire emergency.
6. Preventing Fires Means All Hands on Deck
Fire prevention in a commercial kitchen requires everyone’s cooperation. All kitchen staff should know how to do their duties in a safe manner and also be trained in dealing with different types of fires.
As a leader, fire prevention and safety is your responsibility. For the sake of both your employees and your business, you need to be fire safety compliant at all times.
7. Want to Know More About Workplace Fire Safety?
Now that you know some of the best tips for preventing fires in a commercial kitchen, you should use this opportunity to learn more about fire safety training.
If you have questions about our training courses, don’t hesitate to contact us.
No Comments