Commercial kitchen safety is crucial to the success of any food service establishment. Because of this, no room for error exists in a commercial kitchen. Since most accidents in the kitchen are the result of carelessness, they occur rarely. Because of this, if proper commercial kitchen cleaning standards are not enforced, many commercial kitchens run the risk of having serious, even life-threatening, issues. As a result, we will talk about typical risks in the kitchen and how to avoid them with proper and routine deep cleaning.
It may seem counterintuitive to put cleaning the exhaust fans in a commercial kitchen ahead of making sure the kitchen runs smoothly. Workflow optimization in the kitchen is crucial. Yet, it can be a major oversight to put off deep cleaning the commercial kitchen. Problems will arise that will be much more expensive to fix than the occasional expense of hiring a commercial cleaning service for a restaurant kitchen.
The good news is that professional kitchen cleaning can eliminate most risks associated with cooking. Let's take a look at the potential dangers lurking in the kitchen.
What are the most frequent threats in a commercial kitchen?
Human error is usually to blame when mishaps occur in the kitchen. Misuse of appliances, improper wiring, and sloppy stockpiling all fit into this category.
But not every safety issue in the kitchen can be blamed on staff members. Ineffective cleaning is the root of many potential dangers in the kitchen. This is why it is useful to be familiar with the various commercial kitchen deep cleaning services available. Writing down the potential dangers that can arise in your kitchen is also a good idea.
1) Risks associated with manual lifting
Misuse of cooking equipment and utensils is responsible for up to 30% of all injuries that occur in the kitchen. Therefore, issues may arise when lifting heavy objects or due to carelessness.
As a result, it is essential that all of your staff members are well-versed in the proper use of the machinery. Just a little bit of training and direction can go a long way:
The weight of any one item carried by your kitchen staff should never exceed 45 pounds, and they should always be in a squatted position with their arms at their sides to reduce the risk of injury from manual handling.
Two people should always be on hand to help load and move the food and drink crates. When possible, use trolleys, crates, and other transportation equipment.
The ground must be smooth and free of obstacles and puddles.
To reduce the potential for accidents and injuries on the job, these procedures must be strictly adhered to at all times. Importantly, kitchen injuries and illnesses can be avoided with regular cleaning and tidying.
In addition, there should be clear, detailed procedures for caring for and storing kitchen equipment. In addition, this includes essential details about how to clean to a high standard.
Most kitchen accidents aren't the result of carelessness, but of simple forgetfulness.
2) Avoid food poisoning and cross contamination, it is important to keep the kitchen clean.
Improper storage of food, beverages, and cooking ingredients is another factor to think about when trying to reduce risks in the kitchen. Having clearly labeled cabinets, fridges, and freezers is crucial. Never put up with disarray, filth, or outdated gadgets.
This means that you can't have things falling on people or employees. Then, you must keep everything in its proper place to prevent food poisoning. Long-term exposure to toxic substances from improper food handling and storage is a major cause of health problems and poisoning.
This is where a consistent cleaning schedule comes in handy. If you want to cook safely, you need to start with proper storage and cleaning that adhere to food-grade standards. A restaurant's storage areas, if any, must be kept in the same pristine condition as the rest of the establishment. When it comes to the upkeep of your commercial kitchen or storage facility, you should hire a company that specializes in food-safe commercial kitchen disinfection.
3) Securely outsource your storage space
That's why it makes sense to look into expanding to an off-site storage facility. Finding a safe place to store your belongings will give you peace of mind that your staff and customers will never be put in danger by handling potentially harmful substances. Specialized storage facilities typically maintain constant temperatures to protect the items being stored.
In addition, pick an insulated warehouse to ensure that your perishables remain in prime condition. Having excellent storage conditions away from the restaurant is always preferable. To begin, there is no real risk to human life in the event of a mishap. Second, risks are extremely low under these circumstances.
4. The lack of proper care for and cleaning of kitchen appliances
If you don't properly clean and maintain your kitchen's appliances, you risk fires, tool deterioration, food poisoning, and an unsafe working environment. Due to the prevalence of potential hazards in the kitchen, consistent cleaning is essential. Cleaning the exhaust hood and system over a restaurant's cookline, for instance, removes the grease and other particles that accumulate over time.
Taking this extra measure to clean has many advantages. One major benefit is a decreased risk of fire and smoke from electrical malfunctions. Then, you can boost the effectiveness of your restaurant's kitchen appliances as a whole. This is a simple process. When grease and dirt build up on appliances, they stop working properly. In addition to improving the appliance's performance, keeping it clean also helps it last longer.
To illustrate this point, let's look at the process of cleaning the hoods above restaurants. Cleaning it on your own is not recommended. Even though your cleaning crew can handle the day-to-day scrubbing, you still need to schedule in periodic maintenance cleanings. If you want to keep your kitchen clean, sanitary, and efficient for the sake of your customers and employees, you need to hire certified commercial hood cleaners. Therefore, keeping a restaurant clean on a consistent basis can greatly reduce the likelihood of accidents and loss of income.
When you're ready to take your vent hood cleaning and deep kitchen cleaning to the next level, call Cornerstone Commercial Services at 1-800-274-3905.