6 Ways to Prevent Fires in Your Restaurant
Working in the hospitality industry comes with its own set of risks, including potential fires. Even if you work hard to prevent them, fires can still start due to an electrical malfunction or other accident. Once a fire has begun, it’s important to be able to extinguish it before it spreads throughout your restaurant and causes thousands of dollars in damages, as well as endangering the lives of your employees and customers. This post will go over six ways you can help prevent fires in your restaurant so you won’t have to fear fires any longer!
Invest In Good Wet Chemical Extinguishers
The most common way of putting out a fire is with water and foam extinguishers. There are many different types of extinguishers, which all have their own advantages and disadvantages. The first rule for using a wet chemical fire extinguisher is always to call the emergency first before attempting to put out a fire yourself, since fires can spread rapidly and need immediate attention from firefighters trained in fighting flames. Train every worker in your restaurant to use wet chemical fire extinguisher.
Damaged Electrical Wiring
The most common cause of fires in restaurants is damaged electrical wiring. Inspect your restaurant for any damage to electrical wiring, and fix them immediately. When you find a damaged wire, don’t touch it with bare hands: use tools like pliers or wires to fix them. If you can’t fix it yourself, call an electrician immediately.
Proper Ventilation and Lighting
A small fire can quickly become a big problem if you don’t have proper ventilation and lighting. Install smoke alarms and exit signs, and keep light bulbs updated with fresh batteries. Having an established evacuation plan helps ensure everyone leaves immediately when an alarm goes off or if they spot a fire on their own. Make sure your employees are aware of any potential dangers that could lead to fires in your restaurant, such as under-staffing or over-crowding.
Hose Pipe Connections
One of the most dangerous things that can happen in a kitchen is a fire. One of the major cause of fires and fire-related injuries are from cooking equipment, which means that you need to be aware of where your gas connections are in your restaurant and ensure they’re appropriately protected. That includes checking for leaks regularly and keeping all hose pipe connections secure.
Cleaning Supplies & Spills
Cleaning supplies, such as bleach and ammonia, should be stored away from flammable items, like paper products or cooking ingredients. They should also be kept out of reach of staff members who are responsible for cleaning. Spills can cause fires, too, so make sure you clean up any messes immediately.
Proper Utensil Storage
Although there are a number of ways you can reduce fire risks within your restaurant, your first step should be ensuring that all of your cooking utensils and equipment are kept off of flammable surfaces. It’s recommended that you store all pots, pans, and utensils on specialised racks or within cabinet drawers. In addition, keep any flammable liquids away from heat sources such as open flames or ovens.
The author is one of the leading wholesaler of Fire Protection Equipment, including wet chemical extinguishers. He offers quality fire safety equipment that are Australian Standards Certified, providing products and equipment of excellent quality with fair pricing. Visit https://www.firefactory.com.au/ for more details.