Safety Tips and Precautions for your Kitchen

Accidents don’t knock at your door or ask for your permission. They just happen all of a sudden and put your life at risk. We spend a considerable chunk of time in the kitchen where hazards are most likely to occur.

Reports show that 480 people lose their lives in a year due to kitchen fires and kitchen knives injure 350,000 people each year.

Fires, burns, and lacerations are the most common culprits. If your children visit the kitchen in such a risky environment, these undesirable occurrences are bound to happen.

So, avoiding these perils will not only protect your life but also ensure the safety of your loved ones. There are many things to consider when following precautionary measures such as stoves, gas pipes, sharps, ovens, etc. 

So, attention must be given to the equipment and tools most likely to cause an unfortunate event. 

  • Fire/ Gas Leaks Safety Tips

A blazing fire can engulf your entire house. According to a study, natural gas is a culprit of 40 deaths per year. However, fires don’t start up on their own; there must be some kind of triggering phenomena. 

By safe handling your gas equipment, fire risks can be defeated. Here are a few precautionary measures that you must opt for in the kitchen.

Tip: If you are looking for a home with a kitchen in the UK that is safe for not only you but your kids as well, there are many websites online that you can refer to such as Estate Agent UK. 

  • Do not Use Faulty Appliances:

First of all, you must ensure that the gas or electric equipment in your kitchen is safe and fault free. Using a faulty apparatus, even if it is working is an unwise act.

To ensure your appliances’ safety, an annual gas safety check must be done by a gas safety professional, and a Gas Safety Certificate cp12 must be submitted to show your legal compliance.

  • Keep the Stoves Clean:

Dirty stoves or ovens are common occurrences. While cooking, food can spill on your oven or stove and can stir the fire. Also, a dirty oven produces black smoke that is deadly to your health. 

Most kitchen fire erupts due to grease and oil. If you are making three dishes at once, chances are you’ll make a mess in your kitchen and won’t clean up.

By doing so, you will be putting your life at risk. The accumulated grease, fats, and oil in your stove are highly inflammable and can set a kitchen fire, even if you are correctly handling appliances.

Moreover, improper handling and maintenance will shrink the life span of your appliances as well. So, keep your kitchen stove clean.

  • Turn Off Appliances Immediately:

You are so excited to take a bite of your new recipe that you completely forget to turn off the stove or oven. Keep your excitement aside and turn off the flame first, otherwise, this bite you are dying to have could be your last.

  • Install a Smoke Alarm System:

If there is no smoke alarm installed in your kitchen, the chances of having a deadly fire in your home get doubled. So, install a fire alarm system in your kitchen and monitor it regularly.

The fire alarm battery must be checked regularly, and the fire alarm system should be replaced after every 10 years. 

  • Safely Operate Pressure Cooker:

We all prefer to cook in a gas pressure cooker because of its quick operation. However, if you do not follow safety protocols, there will be a high risk of a gas fire.

Between 2016 -2017, 736 fires occurred in the UK due to oil and gas stoves. So, you must take precautionary measures to avoid such perils.

The most basic yet important safety tip is to light the match first and then turn the gas on. Do not apply DIY fixes with your pressure cooker.

  • Keep Flammables Away from Stove:

While cooking, we want everything to be handy, but this convenience can put you in hot waters. Anything that can catch fire must be placed away from the stove. Such as empty food cans, plastic, paper towels etc. 

  • Prefer Automatic Appliances:

A smart kitchen is smart enough to deter any hazard. Automatic devices such as thermometers, instant pots, air fryers, range hoods, and more are very convenient and safe to use because they have an automatic turn-off option.

  • Detect Gas Leakage:

A strong smell will be there if gas is leaking from your pipe, but it is not always noticeable. An effective method is to use the soapy bubble method.

Take some soapy bubbles, lather them up on the sponge and then apply on to the pipe. If you see bubbles spreading, there is a possibility of gas leakage.

  • Learn Fire Extinguishing Skills:

It is not enough just to install a fire extinguisher; you must know how to operate it in an emergency. Learn the process through tutorials or user manuals.

You can also practice by setting a fire intentionally and applying a fire extinguisher to assess your performance. However, if you think you can’t handle it, then don’t take the risk.

  • Cover Stove Tops:

Some heat remains on top of the stove without being noticeable. A good idea is to keep a cover on them. It will avert the danger of any flame catching and will also save the children from touching the hot stove.

  • Do not Leave Kitchen While Cooking:

According to a study, 33% of kitchen disasters between 2010 and 2014 occurred when a person cooking food left the kitchen.

Don’t leave the kitchen unattended in the middle of cooking. You might forget and then rush back when you see smoke or smell burning food.

  • Electric Safety Tips

  • Keep Gadgets Away from Water:

Don’t place an electronic gadget near a sink, even if the gadget is water-resistant. A wet gadget when turned on can result in a disaster. 

Also, don’t touch the switchboards and wires with wet hands. Keep a cloth or towel handy and dry your hands before touching any of them.

  • Bare Wires Must Be Covered:

A naked wire is another noteworthy risk in the kitchen. Always make sure that the wire is covered with an insulating material. Worn chords must be replaced as soon as possible.

  • Know Your Appliances:

Carefully read the instructions affixed with appliances and learn the safe usage of them. Don’t use an appliance other than for its intended purpose. Let appliances cool down before cleaning them.

  • Laceration Safety Tips

Knives, peelers, and choppers are also dangerous, so they must be handled with care. Don’t rush or distract yourself while cutting and keep a first aid box handy. Slowly chop or slice the food to keep your fingers safe.

If you have bought a chef knife to cut food items, use your last three fingers to grasp the knife handle, thumb, and index finger to hold the blade, and the other hand to support the food that is being cut.

Protect your hand by curling your fingers and tucking the thumb at the back of your fingers. Always cut the food in the direction opposite to your body.

  • Safe Clothing Tips

A safe attire can minimize the risk of danger while improper clothing can invite a deadly hazard. There are a few important tips that must be followed in the kitchen.

  • Avoid loose Clothing:

Long, loose, and flowy sleeves can create mishaps in the kitchen. One wrong turn while wearing this can pose a fire risk.

Try to wear tight-fitting and short sleeves. Another idea is to wear an apron that isn’t frilly or decorative.

  • Avoid Open Hair:

If you have long hair, then the best thing to do before starting cooking is to tie it back. This way you’ll look sophisticated, and your hair won’t have the risk of catching fire. Tying your hair also stops any loose strands from falling in your food. 

  • Put on Your Shoes:

My friend once dropped a knife on her foot and got a cut that needed stitches. This shows the importance of wearing shoes in the kitchen. A sturdy pair of shoes is a good safety tip.

  • Slip and Trip Safety Tips

In such a bustling world, you may be in a hurry to get things done but this hasty attitude in the kitchen is extremely dangerous.

Fallen food and fluids on the floor, might make you slip while walking. These risks can be eliminated using the following tips.

  • Non-Slip Mats:

To minimize slip and trip incidents, get slip-resistant mats on the kitchen floor. This way, you can move easily in the kitchen. 

These non-slip mats provide friction and traction for people to work without worrying about mishaps. You can also use non-slippery tiles instead of mats.

  • Safest Cooktops for Kitchen

Besides following above mentioned precautions, you must consider updating your kitchen appliances. Stove or cooktop is a major source of hazards, so it must be updated first. 

  • Induction Stoves:

Induction stoves are getting mainstreamed these days. When you put a pan on the cooktop, an electric current is generated by a copper wire. The magnetic field oscillates to heat the pan.

There is neither a hot coil nor a flame that can cause a fire. Also, the stove doesn’t heat up, only the pan containing food gets the required heat. Also, these induction cookers automatically turn off when you remove the pan from the stove surface.

  • Low-Temperature Burners:

Low-temperature burner is another safe option. Cast-iron covers in these burners provide the heat high enough to cook the food but low enough to cause burn or injury. 

  • Turn Off Timer Stoves:

Add a smart and safe feature to your traditional stoves to ensure a safe kitchen environment. Stoves with turn-off timer feature work in an incredible way.

If the user is not in front of the stove or they don’t move for a while, it automatically turns off. For those who forget to turn off the flame, this feature is for you.

Conclusion – Safety Tips and Precautions for Your Kitchen

Your life is precious; don’t put it at risk due to your carelessness. A kitchen is a place where most accidents occur, so taking precautionary measures in the kitchen is extremely important.

We have mentioned numerous safety tips related to fire, slips, and equipment hazards that can easily be practiced in your home.

 

Categories: FEATURED

Nicolas Desjardins

Hello everyone, I am the main writer for SIND Canada. I've been writing articles for more than 12 years and I like sharing my knowledge. I'm currently writing for many websites and newspapers. I always keep myself very informed to give you the best information. All my years as a computer scientist made me become an incredible researcher. You can contact me on our forum or by email at [email protected].