Office kitchen fires account for over 20 percent of commercial building fires according to the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) and cooking equipment is the source of 29 percent of those fires. While office kitchen fires may start small, they can lead to significant structural damage to your building. When your employees are properly trained about fire safety, many of these types of fires can be prevented. How can you prevent a fire from happening? Here are four important safety tips to help you get started:
Replace Worn or Frayed Power Cords
Someone should inspect the power cords for appliances in the kitchen on a regular basis. Are the wires frayed or exposed? If so, the cord can short out and cause a fire. Ask your employees to report any damaged cords and remove or replace them as soon as they are found.
Monitor Food While Cooking
It is easy to get distracted in the office kitchen while talking to coworkers or trying to do too many things at once. To prevent this, enncourage employees to watch their food while it is cooking to ensure that it doesn’t smoke or burn.
Clean Appliances Regularly
Sometimes a food will spill or explode while cooking causing a mess. Spills and baked-in foods left behind can cause a fire. Cleaning kitchen equipment after each use will prevent grease or food debris from accumulating. Remind employees to clean up after themselves to prevent these fire hazards from occurring.
Provide Fire Extinguisher Training
All employees should be trained on how to use a fire extinguisher in the event of a fire. Employees correctly trained on fire-fighting equipment can mean the difference between a catastrophe or a minor incident.
Since most office fires start in the kitchen, it is important to educate employees on office kitchen safety. Call Fire Control Systems today to schedule a time to train your employees on how to use a fire extinguisher correctly and fire safety practices.