Commercial establishments must follow government regulations regarding fire safety. Commercial kitchens, or any other establishment that directly deals with gas appliances and heaters, must be doubly cautious about people’s safety. Commercial gas services London companies provide will ensure that the installation, servicing and repair of gas appliances as well as heating systems in commercial kitchens are compliant with fire safety codes of the locality.
Always follow the owner’s manual on equipment use
There is a world of difference between a commercial kitchen and a residential one in terms of cooking appliances used. Commercial kitchens use industrial-sized cookers, and they come with their own user manual. Improperly using cooking appliances in an industrial setting are a fire risk. Follow usage instructions to a T. Deep fat fryers are just one of those appliances that staff need to use correctly. Filling them to the brim with cooking oil will inevitably cause a fire, as the oil may overflow and catch fire. It can spread very quickly, not leaving enough time for the staff to put it out and evacuate the area.
A remote shutdown for gas-powered cooking appliances
Active fire safety measures are of significant help, but passive means will also save the area from fires. One of these passive measures is installing a remote shutdown switch for gas and heating appliances. Should a fire happen, someone can shut the gas source off without having to endanger their life by going near the flames.
Cleanliness in the whole kitchen is a requirement
Keeping the entire kitchen clean is not only for hygienic purposes. It is also to prevent any item from catching fire. A messy work table or cooking area with scattered items such as food boxes and containers is a disaster waiting to happen.
Kitchen staff must wear proper clothing
Loose clothing is a big no-no in commercial kitchens. It may catch the flames from the cooker, and endanger the person wearing inappropriate clothing, and the fire may spread to other areas in the kitchen. Kitchen staff with long hair should pull it back and tie it, not only for fire safety but to avoid food contamination as well.
Do not leave any cooker on
Leaving food cooking may be a cause of fire. Always look after the food until it is properly cooked. Spilt oil catches fire very quickly.
Security in the premises is paramount
Checking the entire area – indoors and outdoors – before closing for the night is a must. Staff must make sure to turn off any and all gas appliances before leaving the kitchen.
Staff training on what steps to take in case of fire will be of great help to the business, and safety measures will also keep them safe on the job. Besides their job description of cooking and serving customers, business owners must also invest in their fire safety training, because relying solely on fire fighters should a fire break out will lead to irreparable damage to the business and the well-being of the staff and customers.
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