Kitchen Safety Tips

9/21/2020 (Permalink)

A stove and oven are a necessary household item. We use them on a daily basis for small meals and large meals alike. The stove is a critical component of the household and life would be hard without one, but life can be dangerous if you are not practicing safety and caution while using a stove.

Cooking fires are the primary cause of residential fires in the U.S.. For the most part, kitchen fires are preventable, if you follow the safety tips provided below.

PURCHASING A STOVE TOP & OVEN:

• Make sure it has the label of an independent testing lab.
• Register your oven either online or with the provided card. This allows the manufacturer to contact you about recalls or potential dangers.
• Be sure that your oven is installed properly, with safe clearance from the hood and proper wiring.
• Consider installing "after market" safety devices, especially if small children are in your household. 
• Stove Knob Stops
• Stove Locking Straps
• Stove Safety Guards

USING YOUR STOVE TOP & OVEN:

• Never leave cooking unattended.
• Keep it clean. Food particles and grease residue can ignite and cause a fire.
• Create a “Kid-Free Zone” that children are aware they are not allowed to enter.
• Check for body safety.
• Tie back long hair.
• Roll up long sleeves.
• Remove loose jewelry.
• Be sure footwear is non-slip.
• Before each use, do an oven safety check.
• Be sure you do not smell gas leaking from a gas stove.  If you do, open a window and leave the room.
• Make sure there is nothing in the oven. An oven should never be used for storage.
• Make sure that there are no food particles or grease residue on the stove top.
• Position your oven racks before pre-heating to prevent scalding.
• Be sure to follow safety guidelines when using stove top burners.
• Use burners on the back as much as possible.
• Never use a pot that is too small or big for the burner.
• Never leave a burner on that does not have a filled pot or pan on it.
• Do not leave an empty pan on a hot burners.
• Turn all pot and pan handles inwards. They can be pulled and knocked over when they are turned out.
• Close the oven door immediately after removing or testing food.
• Keep oven mitts and other cloth and paper out of the way of the burners.
• Use oven mitts and oven sticks to remove pots and pans from the stove top or oven.
• Keep a fire extinguisher, baking soda and metal lids nearby to put out fires quickly.

IN CASE OF FIRE:

• Never use water on a grease fire.
• If it is small in the pan, throw baking soda on top of it or cover it with a metal lid.
• Never use flour or fan the flames with a towel.
• Use an ABC rated dry chemical extinguisher. Be sure it is placed next to an exit so that you can back out of the kitchen and home if the fire becomes uncontrollable.
• If it is too big to smother with a lid or put out with an extinguisher, turn off the burner, move the pan off the burner if you are able to, and evacuate the house.
• If it is in the oven, keep the door closed and turn off the heating element.
• Do not remove a lid or open the oven door until the pot or pan has completely cooled.
• Before trying to fight a fire, be sure to evacuate everyone from the home.
• Turn off the burners or oven.

If the fire does not go out, exit the home and call for emergency help. If you need help with restoring your home after a fire, Call SERVPRO of Greenville/Cleveland at 662-846-1700.