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Kitchen Health and Safety

kitchen health and safetyIt is a well known fact that most accidents happen in the home, and it is quite unsurprising that most of these take place in the kitchen. Younger and older people are particularly vulnerable, and as the nation's population is living longer than ever before we should all be making measures to ensure the safety of ourselves and visitors within our homes. If you are planning a kitchen renovation or new fit, discuss with a professional designer how you can implement more safety measures into the kitchen design.

Cooking: Your kitchen should be ergonomically designed to reduce unnecessary movement and awkward manoeuvres. This applies particularly to the hob and oven area. Burns and scalding usually occur as a consequence of distraction, but there is some further protection if you use triple-glazed or cooling system ovens. These have a low surface temperature as they operate, and so prevent burning through accidental touches or leaning by children.

Hob areas are the most potentially dangerous, though they should all now have an automatic cut off installed so that the gas stops if the flame accidentally goes out. The hob should never be placed in front of a window precisely to prevent this from happening, and also to prevent curtains or blinds flapping dangerously near naked flames. When cooking, ensure that pan handles are not receiving heat from another hob or ring, and that you do not leave the handle hanging over the edge.

Always allocate sufficient space around the cooking surface. You will need an amount of worktop by the oven and hob so that hot and heavy items can be put down quickly. Fit plug sockets on either side of the hob so that appliances and their leads won't need to be pulled across the hot surface. Lastly, always position the hob near to the sink so that it won't be necessary to carry full pans very far and never put the units either side of a door. You do not want to collide with someone coming in whilst you are carrying boiling water.

Storage: Store your kitchen items wisely to minimise the risk of accidents. Heavy items and awkward pots and pans should be stored in the lower cupboards, while glassware and other lighter goods can be stored in wall cupboards. Modern designs in deep pan drawers have non-slip bases to prevent crockery sliding about and breaking.

One in five household deaths is due to poisoning accidents and most of the victims are less than five years old. If you have children in the home, either store poisonous goods higher up or fit child locks onto any drawers and doors with chemicals, knives, and breakables.

Other danger areas: Ensure that teapots and kettles will be places away from childish grabby fingers, and move all leads and flexes to the back of your worktops. Never position plug sockets or appliances near to the sink. Double check the number of sockets you will require, as overloading them is hazardous.

There are many styles of flooring that you can have fitted for the kitchen, but this is a case where you should always choose function over form. Some styles can get very slippery, so think about the practicalities for children or older persons. Wipe up spills as they happen and install a water resistant floor that does not warp or crack. If you spend a lot of time cooking in the kitchen, it is a advisable to avoid ceramic or porcelain tiles as there is no 'give' in them.

Allocate space in your kitchen for a fire blanket and small extinguisher, but do not locate the blanket too close to the hob in case you cannot reach it for the flames.

Health and Hygiene

The kitchen needs to be a comfortable and easy space to use so that the main cook can carry out their tasks without causing themselves discomfort or injury. This means that worktops, cupboards, and appliances should be positioned at the optimum height for the primary user so they don't have to stretch or bend unnecessarily.

Kitchens can easily become the dirtiest room in the house, but it is vitally important that they are also one of the most hygienic. Using certain materials in your fittings can make the kitchen easier to clean; granite and quartz worktops for example, are smooth, seamless and stain resistant. A well designed kitchen will try to avoid the common dirt and grime traps such as the joins around the sink and between worktops.

kitchen health and safetyOn cupboards, wood doors can be wiped clean with hot water and detergent. Soak up any excess water as it may damage the joints if left. If accidental scratches have occurred, match some poster paint to the scratch and coat it with furniture wax. Wood polish prevents grime build up and damage being inflicted on wood doors. Laminate doors are water resistant and are easy to wipe clean with any commercial anti-grease spray or with a vinegar/water solution. Stainless steel cupboards, metal fridges and hobs should be cleaned with care and strong chemical cleaners could damage the surface coating.

If there is sufficient space and money in the kitty, buying a dishwasher is often the more hygienic alternative to washing up in the sink. A dishwasher runs at higher temperatures killing more bacteria and drying with steam. Tea towels tend to be a haven for bacteria in their warm, damp material. If you have not got a dishwasher, make sure tea towels are regularly washed at high temperatures and dried thoroughly after each use.

Allow room for an extraction fan in the kitchen. It not only helps to extract odours and steam, but also grease that builds up around the kitchen.