Commercial kitchens are rife with safety hazards. If left unaddressed, staff may experience injuries, leading to lowered morale, turnover, or even legal issues. Luckily, restaurants can take steps to keep their employees safe on the job. Join us as we discuss how to improve safety in a commercial kitchen.
Use Drainage Mats
Drainage mats are vital tools for keeping kitchen staff safe. These mats prevent spills in the kitchen by draining spilled liquids and foods away from the mat’s surface. Since falls are among the biggest offenders when it comes to worker injuries, kitchens must use mats to reduce workers’ risk of slipping and falling. Kitchens should place drainage mats in important areas, such as those prone to spills or moisture and other high-traffic kitchen areas. Additionally, drainage mats made with anti-fatigue properties reduce employees’ risk of developing injuries from standing in one place and contribute to a cleaner kitchen environment.
Invest in Quality Equipment
Investing in quality kitchen equipment and appliances ensures your employees stay safe while preparing food. Regularly maintain and inspect all appliances, such as ovens, stoves, refrigerators, and slicers, and select equipment with safety features like automatic shut-off mechanisms and temperature controls. Purchase high-quality knives and regularly resharpen them, as a dull knife is more likely to cause harm to a staff member using it than a properly sharpened one. The money spent on quality equipment may save you resources in the future by ensuring the safety of your kitchen staff.
Train Your Employees
Keeping employees safe starts with ensuring they know the safest practices for working in a commercial kitchen environment. Ensure that all employees, from chefs to dishwashers, receive thorough training on equipment operation, food handling protocols, and emergency procedures. Hold additional training sessions to refresh long-standing employees on these protocols and ensure everyone knows the safest work methods.
Prioritize Cleanliness
Maintaining a clean and organized kitchen promotes food safety and contributes to overall safety and efficiency. Encourage regular cleaning schedules for workstations, equipment, utensils, and floors to prevent grease buildup, spills, and contamination. Use color-coded cutting boards and utensils to prevent cross-contamination between raw and cooked foods. Use drainage mats to keep the floor spill-free and reduce the debris tracked throughout your kitchen and dining area. Ensure walkways are free of tripping hazards.
Encourage Feedback
Effective communication and teamwork are vital components of a safe commercial kitchen environment. Encourage open communication channels among staff members to report safety concerns, hazards, or near-miss incidents promptly. Foster a culture where employees look out for each other’s safety and well-being. As a result, you’ll be able to keep your employees safe even when you’re not at your restaurant and catch any hazards before they pose a threat to your staff.
Now that you know how to improve safety in a commercial kitchen, you can ensure your restaurant is a safe place for everyone who works there. By preventing injuries, you’ll create a healthier, more productive work environment and avoid future legal issues.
