Hazards in kitchen and how to avoid them

The kitchen is prone to accidents weather it's cutting off a finger or burning your self on hot oil, hazards are all around and if not properly managed hazards can lend to serious accidents.
The most common hazards in the kitchen are, faulty equipment, untidy and unhygienic kitchens, unsafe traffic paths, uneven and slippery or wet floors, incorrect lifting or moving of equipment, incorrect handling of equipment and incorrect handling and storage of cleaning chemicals.

Here are a few simple guidelines to combats these hazards. Regular maintenance of equipment will help reduce hazards as well as help the lifespan, it is preferable that you keep a record of all maintenance as well as have regular inspections. Clean your equipment regularly especially your ovens, have cleaning schedules and set aside enough time to clean properly. Keep walkway clear of obstacles, clean spills immediately and keep to the left of walkway to allow for easy traffic flow. It is important that you warm others around you when you are walking with heavy or hot objects and watch where you are going, no one wants hot oil all over the floor.NEVER!!!!! Run in the kitchen, never.

Kitchen flooring is also quit important in the kitchen, you should choose flooring that is non- spill, not polished, or without glossy finish, that is non- porous and durable, for example not wood, look more for porcelain, vinyl, or rubber flooring. There shouldn't, b any cracks in the floors or walls, the fewer joints or grouting the cleaner and easier to clean, what also helps with clean is having rounded edges on the corner and floors. To help reduce strain and problems when lifting heavy objects, put them on lower shelves or closer to the ground. When handling equipment or chemicals always follow the manufacturers instructions, and store them in dark, cool ventilated room.

When using your knives always keep them sharp, never use a blunt knife it requires more force and can cause injures. Never have your knife laying around, never leave them soaking in water or at the bottom of the sink, this could damage your knife and injure people. Always secure your cutting board with a wet cloth under the cutting board. Now finally if an accident where to happen because you can't control everything, what info would you need to fill out on the accident report, well first you'll need the name of the person who was injured. Then the date of accident, next nature of injury eg. Cut or oil burn. Then state if medical help was needed, then the place of accident, take down a witnesses account of the accident and finally the signature of witness and supervisor. Hopefully this will help you keep a clean and safe kitchen for years and years.