The Most Common Kitchen Hazards and How to Avoid Them

A home is not complete if it does not have a kitchen. However, the kitchen can potentially pose some dangers to anyone accessing it. Although there are common kitchen hazards we face, it is possible to avoid them. Common risks in the kitchen are; fire, electrical issues, burns, slipping, improper handling of kitchen equipment, food poisoning, and improper storage.

Fire

The lead cause of residential fires is cooking, and it is mainly because of unattended cooking. Fire can also result from electrical appliances in the kitchen and oils. To avoid fire, you should exercise the following precautions;

• Monitor your food when cooking at high temperatures.
   
• Set a timer if you are simmering to remind you that you have food in the kitchen.
• When cooking with oil at high temperatures, cover the cooking pot with a lid.
• Remove any spills, clothes, or any paper that may ignite from anywhere close to your stove.
• Cook with tight-fitting clothes, as loose clothes may ignite.

Fire can cause a lot of damage to your home, hence the need to carry out the above preventive measures. However, if a fire occurs, you should evacuate from the premises immediately and contact the local fire agency.

After the firefighters deal with the fire, get fire damage restoration services to pack your salvageable property and remove odor from your home. The restoration services will help you to have your home ready for rebuilding quickly.

Electrical issues

We are transforming our kitchens each day to make work easier. Most of the devices in the kitchen are electrical devices leading to another hazard in the kitchen. Electrical fires and electrical shocks may occur in the kitchen as a result.

When dealing with electricity;

• Take regular inspections to ensure the cable wires are in order.
• Naked wires must be repaired by professionals as soon as they are detected.
• When plugging in sockets, ensure that your hands are dry.

Burns

Contact with hot food, liquids, and equipment can cause burns. Burns commonly affect children, so if you have children playing around the kitchen, make sure you supervise them. Due to slips in the kitchen, some burns occur in scenarios whereby the person is trying to steady himself/herself with a hot container.

To avoid burns, you should;

• Have slip-resistant footwear to avoid slips.
• Avoid carrying containers with hot liquids.
• Maintain your equipment, especially the pressurized cook equipment.

Bonus tip; When heating with a microwave, use vented containers. If you use a covered container, puncture the lid to allow the steam to escape, as the steam from microwaves can go up to 200 degrees.

Slipping and falling

Slipping and falling can occur in the kitchen due to slippery floors, uneven floors, and a fall when trying to reach something from the shelf. Slipping and falling can cause injury, burns, and broken arms.

The good news is that it is possible to avoid a slip or fall;

• Remove any spills that may cause slipping.
• Utilize water damage restoration services when water is leaking.
• Avoid carrying heavy items on a ladder.
• Use steady stools when getting things from a higher shelf.

Improper handling of kitchen equipment

Kitchen equipment can be a hazard, and you do not handle them with a lot of care. The knives are for cutting in the kitchen, and you should use them with utmost care. When handling knives;

• Ensure that they are kept sharp at all times.
• Keep the handles in good order, and remove any grease that may be on them.
• When washing the knives, keep the sharp side away from you.

When handling the technical kitchen equipment such as the microwaves and blenders, make sure you read the manual and follow all the manufacturer's safety measures on the manual.

Food poisoning

The CDC estimates that in a year, 48 million get sick from foodborne diseases. Therefore, carrying food safety measures is a necessity in every home to promote your family's protection. The measures are;

• Cleaning of hands, fruits, and vegetables
• Washing of utensils using warm, soapy water.
• Ensure that you cook food properly

Raw food is one of the causes of food poisoning. To make sure your food is well-cooked, utilize a food thermometer to ensure that the temperature is high enough to kill germs when cooking.

Improper storage of equipment

All items in a kitchen should be kept in an orderly manner. Disorganization can cause injury where you have massive objects falling on you and tripping on the things. It can also lead to an unhygienic kitchen, causing food poisoning. Use the following tips to store your items better;

• Never store heavy items above your waist level.
• You should store all allergic items in a unique place.
• The fridge's temperature should be 0-5 degrees.

While the kitchen is a dangerous part of your home, it is possible to turn it into a safe environment. Some of the kitchen hazards can cause life-threatening injuries, so you should not ignore any of the above-mentioned measures.

Recovering from a kitchen hazard that has occurred

Although you can avoid most of the kitchen accidents, sometimes the hazard may occur due to unavoidable circumstances or accidents. In case of an injury, seek medical attention immediately. Some injuries may seem minor, but for some accidents, the symptoms occur after an extended period, or you may have an internal injury.

Fires are devastating as they cause damage to the person and property. Recovering from a fire may take quite a long time, and that's where we come in. AdvantaClean can help prepare to handle the building's cleaning and prepare it for any rebuilding it may require. 

We are available 24/7 for any emergency. We offer a free consultation, so do not hesitate to call us on (866) 512-3048 to schedule an appointment, and let us show you a quick way to bring your place back in order.