Wednesday, July 1, 2009

How To Improve Kitchen Safety

By Mike Stevens

One of the most regularly used rooms in the house, by all members of the family, is the kitchen. Unfortunately it can often be one of the most dangerous rooms in the house too. It contains unattended machines and gadgets such as fridges, washing machines and cookers and also has the added danger of water near electrical items. It is an important room, however, as it is a family meeting place and somewhere where family members gather to eat food.

In a lot of countries, local governments set out strict guidelines with regards to the design of a kitchen. These have to be adhered to, to meet health and safety standards. Many countries also insist on the installation of fire extinguishers and blankets within the kitchen area. It is important to take these factors into account along with any other local government guidelines.

Most of the accidents that happen in the kitchen could be attributed to the following:

The person whom is using the kitchen or whom initially designed the kitchen can be responsible for negligence. In particular, inappropriate use or mishandling of equipment such as toasters, oven grills and mixers can cause danger. Also the kitchen contains many appliances which may develop a fault and cause danger to the user.

Disorganization within the kitchen is a common cause danger. Poor methods of food storage and hygiene, bad drainage systems and ineffective kitchen waste management can all present a risk of acquired infections.

Observing the following can help in alleviating some of these risks:

Always make sure all electrical gadgets in the kitchen are serviced regularly. Keep high levels of hygiene in the way the food is handled, stored and prepared. Improve air quality by maintaining good ventilation, such as installing a range hood. Keep all kitchen tools away from children and handle with care. It is advisable to turn off any electrical appliances that are not in use, which will also have the added benefit of saving you money.

It is important not to leave any combustible materials near heat sources and be careful if wearing loose clothing that could catch alight. Any fires or naked flames should never be left unattended. Having easily accessible exits and installing fire blankets and fire extinguishers will improve safety. Also, young children or infirm elderly people should always be supervised whilst in the kitchen.

Safety measures in the kitchen are relatively simple to put in place. The main contributing factors to accidents arising from the kitchen are often negligence and ignorance. It may a little extra investment in additional equipment like a fire blanket and involve frequent servicing. This small investment is priceless though when you consider it is to the benefit of the safety of your whole family.

About the Author:

No comments: