Kitchen Safety is all about ensuring that the kitchen is free from hazards which could result in injury. It can also be said to mean, being safe in the kitchen.
Importance of Kitchen Safety
Kitchen Safety is important in that, understanding the hazards present in the kitchen can help you avoid causing an accident or subjecting your family to a bout of food poisoning.
Kitchen Hazards
There are lots of hazards present in the kitchen which we should know:
- Sharp objects/surfaces – Like Knife, Grater, etc.
- Hot surfaces
- Water or Oil Spills
- Leak Gas cylinders
- Hot plate when in use
- Poor electrical installations
- Stacked dirty dishes
- Poor placement of kitchen utensils
- Hot oils (There can be burns due to splash), etc.
Read Also: What is Food Hygiene & Why is it Important?
Basic Kitchen Safety Tips
- Wash all your dirty dishes, tables, and other utensils with hot soapy water immediately before and after use.
- Heat oil slowly to avoid splashing, which can lead to minor burns.
- In case of electrical fires, do not use water to extinguish them. It’s best to use a fire extinguisher. Keep a small one in your kitchen if possible.
- Always watch food that’s on the stove, avoid wearing loose clothing that could catch fire, and double check that you’ve turned appliances off when you are done using them.
- Always store and handle knives with caution
- Always inspect your gas cylinder and its accessories before use.
- Keep your gas cylinders outside the kitchen
- Ensure that your electrical appliances are always in good condition.
- Ensure adequate lighting on work surfaces
- Provide non-slip floors at all times.
- Heat-activated fire extinguishers over cooking equipment, especially deep fryers can be used in commercial kitchen.
- Conveniently located emergency equipment, such as fire extinguishers, fire blanket, and first aid kit.
- Clearly posted emergency telephone numbers.
- Smooth traffic patterns to avoid collisions between workers.
- Always assume a pot handle is hot. Don’t just grab it with your bare hand.
- Use dry pads or towels hot pans. Wet ones will create steam, which can burn you.
- Keep pan handles out of the aisle, so people won’t bump into them. Also, keep handles away from flames of gas burners.
- Don’t fill pans so full that they are likely to spill hot foods.
- Make sure gas is well vented before trying to light ovens or pilot lights. Strike matches before turning on the gas. Also, strike matches away from yourself.
- Wear fitted long sleeves and double-breasted jackets to protect yourself from spilled or spattered hot foods or fat. Also, wear sturdy leather shoes with closed toes.
- Never make or receive calls inside the kitchen while cooking
Read Also: What is food safety and why is it important?
