Kitchen Hazards

Kitchen hazards are very dangerous and specially for child.

Baking, cooking, roasting. Children love it when they are hired by the parents as kitchen helpers. And cooking together is not only fun: children learn as well as a little bit about food and the right way to deal with it.

If you have enough space in the kitchen, you can also set up a play kitchen or attach a practical chalk board. So the little ones are right in the middle of the action and in the best of hands, it should be a bit more turbulent in between. Be inspired by our kitchens for the whole family:

Safety Hazards in The Kitchen

Accidents related to work in kitchens are quite frequent. For this reason, we want to focus on risk factors and preventive measures related to this sector.

Kitchens are work areas that involve a series of common risks that can harm the health of workers if appropriate preventive measures are not taken . Most of these risks can be avoided through proper organization and training of staff.

They must have an emergency and evacuation plan prepared by trained personnel, as well as adequate signage and fire extinguishing elements approved and reviewed according to regulations.

For this reason, training of personnel on the use of these elements is essential , so that they know how to act quickly in the face of an unforeseen event.

The selection of Personal Protective Equipment must be carried out by a competent technician and selected according to the professional needs to be covered.

Kitchen Hazards Worksheet

Cuts and punctures

It is one of the main risks of work in kitchens due to the manipulation of hand tools (knives, hooks, scissors …), auxiliary machines (cutter, choppers, saws …), cans, etc.

Preventive measures:

• Keep cutting tools sharp with non-slip handles. •Always use pushers in the use of auxiliary machines.
• Disconnect the machines from the power in case of jamming or cleaning processes.
• Use Personal Protective Equipment (Epis) suitable for each operation such as: metal mesh gloves and aprons, safety goggles when cutting meat pieces and cutting / cleaning fish, etc.

Falls or slips.

This is another of the most frequent accidents in kitchens: Falls at the same level : mainly due to poorly maintained soils, dirty with food remains, greasy or freshly scrubbed. Preventive measures:

• Repair soiled floors immediately.
• Proceed to the immediate cleaning before spills or splashes.
• Place “wet floor” signs in cleaning processes.

Falls at different levels : mainly due to the non-use of adequate means to reach objects from heights or the use of stairs.

Preventive measures:

• To access high areas use ladders in good condition and place them in a safe way that prevents sliding. (Never climb into boxes, chairs, etc.)
• When using fixed ladders, do not drive in a hurry and use all steps.

In both cases , safety footwear with a non-slip sole, penetration-resistant and water-repellent should be worn.

Hitting and falling objects

This risk factor is mainly caused by the lack of order and organization of work in kitchens. Preventive measures:

•  Keep the job clean and in order. •Store work utensils correctly.
•  Place the heaviest objects in the lower parts of the shelves.
•  To avoid knocks, keep the roads free of obstacles, close drawers and doors of cabinets, ovens, dishwashers, etc.
• Wear safety shoes with a reinforced toe to protect against possible falls of objects.

In the work of kitchens related to loading and unloading for storage or in cold storage rooms, the anti- knock caps must be used to protect the head against hard and immovable objects.

Contact term and burns

In the kitchen hot surfaces, the contents of the containers and the same source of heat (stoves, ovens, fryers …) are risk factors that cause serious accidents causing burn.

Preventive measures:

• Orient the handles of the containers towards the interior of the stoves.
• Do not pour water into hot pans or flames.
• Progressively introduce food into containers with hot liquids or frying oils.
•  Use gloves, jackets, aprons, etc. to protect against burns by direct contact or splashes.
• Use safety glasses as protection against splashing liquids.

Acoustic Pollution

The noise is another of the most common risks in the kitchen professions, as a result of the simultaneous operation of several appliances, the noise of crockery and small utensils in general, the tone of voice of the same workers, etc.

For this reason, it is vitally important to prevent and evaluate exposure to noise in the workplace.

Preventive measures:

• Use hearing protectors ( disposable earplugs and reusable earplugs )

Thermal stress

In the works in kitchen it is very frequent to be exposed to extreme temperatures: High temperatures , when cooking near heat sources it is convenient to wear light and breathable clothing so that it does not involve an increase in body heat.

Low temperatures , when entering cold and freezing chambers, it is advisable to wear appropriate warm clothes and gloves so that it does not involve losses of body heat.

Preventive measures:

Adequately ventilate the workplace and use extractor hoods to remove the vapors produced when cooking food. The cold rooms will have to be equipped with a security system that warns of leaks or gas leaks and will have a light signal outside the door that warns of the presence of people inside.

Electrical Installations

In the kitchens there are many electrical appliances that we use with wet hands, feet or clothing, so it is a risk factor that can cause accidents by direct or indirect contact. For this reason, it is vitally important:

• Perform periodic maintenance and always carried out by qualified personnel.
• Do not pour liquids near electrical outlets or electrical panels.
• Installations do not overload them by plugging several into the same outlet.
•  Dispose of devices that are in poor condition or have suffered a blow.
• Keep hands, feet and clothing completely dry before using electrical appliances.
• Use gloves and dielectric footwear under CE regulations

Ergonomic Risks

There are numerous tasks performed by staff working in kitchens that can cause long-term injuries to workers, such as: Forced postures and repetitive movements : try to keep your back straight, bend your legs frequently and during the breaks make gentle stretching movements. It is vitally important to train workers to adopt the correct positions in each task.

Manual handling of loads: lift the load with the muscles of the legs and not with those of the back, avoid moving a single person very heavy loads and keep the heavy object close to the body all the way through short steps.

Preventive measures:

• Use lumbar girdle to reinforce the lower back and abdomen.

Biological Risks

Due to the continuous handling of food, kitchens present risks that can be considered biological contaminants, such as fungi, bacteria, viruses, etc. and that they may be capable of causing negative effects on the worker’s health.

Preventive measures:

• Personal hygiene should be extreme by having sinks or showers provided with disinfectant soaps.
•  In workplaces you can not smoke, eat or drink.
•  In the event of a cut or puncture, the wound must be disinfected and a waterproof dressing or glove should be placed in the event that it occurs on the hands.
• It will be necessary to use PPE, such as gloves , disposable clothing , masks , glasses and rubber boots under CE regulations.

Kitchen cleaning

There are a wide variety of chemical products for cleaning kitchens that due to their composition imply a series of health risks, causing contact burns, splashes and projections to the eyes and inhalation of harmful vapors.

Preventive measures:

• Before using the product, read the label and hazard instructions carefully and comply with all safety measures.
• Keep these products in their original packaging whenever possible and conveniently closed.
• Store detergents and disinfectants away from food.
• To handle these products, the use of Personal Protective Equipment (Epis) such as gloves , masks and safety glasses will be necessary.

Kitchen Safety Hazards

With the right kitchen accessories, you can make your kitchen child-proof and protect you from danger. Stove guards and fuses for doors and drawers ensure safety.

Bubbling water and hot steam find children fascinating. It quickly happens that children’s hands reach the hot pot. A protective grid for the stove ensures that your child does not get to the hot pots or pans.

Of course, knives, scissors and other sharp kitchen utensils are not left unattended in children’s hands. Luckily, drawers and cabinet doors are easy to secure. Finger trap protection included!

10 Tips For Child-Safe Kitchens: Kitchen hazards

Of course, there is no absolutely child-safe kitchen, but with our 10 tips you can limit some dangers to a high degree.Kitchen hazards

• Free Space Under Supervision:

In principle, toddlers in the kitchen should never be without supervision of an adult. If your child wants to help in the kitchen, set up a safe, demarcated corner for him. This gives the child the feeling that they have their own empire. Here, the little chef can play with wooden spoons, pots and plastic bowls.

• Explain Playfully:

Explain to your child again and again what dangers there are in the kitchen and show them this playfully.

• The Kitchen Is Not The Nursery:

falls are the most common causes of accidents in the home. Especially on the smooth floor, where even grease or water splashes on it, slipping danger. Therefore, do not let your child run and run around in the kitchen. Some kitchen furniture invite you to climb. Worktop and stove are often used as steps to get to the wall cabinets. After use, place stools and step ladders that you use yourself out of reach of the child. This makes it difficult for him to climb.

• Kitchen Safety Products:

There are protective grilles for the stove , which prevent the tearing of pots and the touching of hot stove tops. Important are also cover plates for oven window , if this is installed at gripping height of the child. Also, secure the drawers and doors with safety locks to prevent children from getting cleaning supplies, knives, or other dangerous kitchen utensils. Also, all sockets should beprovided with a child safety device.

• Protection Against Electrical Devices:

Electrical devices such as kettles, blenders or coffee machines should be placed out of the reach of children. Make sure that the cables are not hanging down. Generally, you should be careful when handling electrical appliances near water. It is best to disconnect the plug from the socket after use and to put the device away.

• Cooking Carefully:

When cooking, you should place pots and pans on the rear plates of the hob as muchas possible. When these are already occupied, always turn the pot and pan style backwards.

• Childproof Height:

Oven and dishwasher should always be closed. If you are planning a new kitchen, it is best to install the oven right at the back. Then the kids will not even get started.

• Do Not Offend:

Sharp edges on cabinets and tables should be provided with edge / corner protectors, eg made of silicone.

• Covering The Table With Care:

When making a tablecloth, make sure that pots and bowls with hot contents are always placed in the middle of the table. Do not put on a tablecloth. Children instinctively try to hold on to something when they tilt the chair, so they can pull everything down with it.

• Out Of Reach:

Keep the following out of reach of children and in lockable or secured locations:

1. Dishwashing, cleaning and cleaning agents
2. matches
3. spices
4. Alcoholic drinks
5. drugs
6. Swallowable small parts
7. plastic bags
8. Sharp knives and other dangerous cutlery
9. Fruit bowls with eg cherries or nuts. Here threatens Erstickungsgefahr.

Since Little Children’s Eyes Are Very Big

Our funny flash recipes inspire every kid. Because the eye finally eats with. With a little ingenuity, every boring vegetable turns into an imaginative dish.

Sweet!

Crisp!

Sunny pancake With a bit of pancake batter, fresh strawberries and blueberries, you can conjure up a funny sun face in no time. For the pancake dough, flour, egg, sugar, a little salt and milk stir and fry in the pan.

Tomato Mozzarella Caterpillar Small cocktail tomatoes turn into a funny caterpillar with a few pellets of mini mozzarella and balsamic cream.