Preventing Burns in Commercial Kitchens

Based on research by EPS Security, commercial property fires cost their owners $2.4 billion each year. Many of these cases are associated with commercial settings such as restaurants. According to the National Restaurant Association, U.S. restaurants employed around 12.5 million workers at the end of 2020. By 2030, this number is expected to reach 17.2 million. These workers remain at constant risk of fires that can lead to severe burns and lost wages.

Whether you’re a restaurant owner looking to improve the working conditions for employees or an individual worker concerned about personal safety, following these commercial kitchen safety tips:

Ensure Regular Cleaning

Cleaning your commercial kitchen should be an important part of your commercial kitchen safety strategy. When a fire breaks out, it looks for sources of combustible energy. Flammable items like grease serve as fuel for the flames. Create a cleaning schedule for your kitchen and stick so that you keep eliminating flammable items from time to time.

Invest in a Kitchen Fire Suppression System

Since cooking equipment is among the major causes of commercial kitchen fires, an automated fire suppression system can prove extremely valuable. As soon as a fire suppression system detects flames, it will automatically shut off electric or gas supply to the affected appliance and discharge chemicals in the area. This way, it interrupts oxygen flow and smothers the flames depriving the fire of its fuel. The materials it discharges will depend on the type of fire it senses, but you’ll need to ensure proper maintenance for the system.

Use of Protective Gear

Most commercial kitchen workers use hand towels instead of oven mitts or protective gloves to lift pans or hotpots. That’s why it’s common for them to experience scalds and burns. Protective gear including gloves not only help avoid burns, but also provide a tremendous grip to workers so they won’t likely drop hot containers. If your commercial chefs have been using hand towels for a long time, it can be difficult to break their habit. Building awareness and conducting regular counseling should make the transition quicker.

Wearing Appropriate Clothing

Workers cooking with hot oil or using fryers should be wearing gauntlets or spatter shields. Similarly, wearing non-skid shoes should prevent the workers from slipping on greasy or wet kitchen floors. There are cases when employees accidentally plunged an arm or hand into the deep fryer oil as they slipped, facing severe burns.

Prepare for a Fire Emergency

Sometimes, commercial kitchen fires become inevitable, no matter what preventive measures you take. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that your staff is fully prepared to deal with a fire emergency. This involves providing them with proper training on how to respond to such scenarios, having fire extinguishers in proper functioning condition, easily accessible first-aid kits, and so on. Employees should know the basics about how to treat scalds or burns.

Conclusion

By now, you should have developed a fair idea about how to prevent burns in commercial kitchens. If you have already suffered fire damages, you might be looking for insurance for restaurants in Woodridge. No matter how complicated your case is, SIA Insurance Group can help you get compensated for the burns and losses.