More on Burn Safety

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Burns are natural partners of a chef when it comes to the kitchen. But if you are careful, you’ll know right away that this adage does not need to be true always. All you need are techniques and a little know how to avoid nasty burns when you are in the kitchen.

Here are more practical ways you can avoid burns.

1. Pay attention when working around hot equipment.

Focus is the key here. Remember that you are working in a very hot environment. Get your head off the clouds and put all your attention on the hot equipment.

2. Always alert other employees when carrying hot food by saying “HOT FOOD” or “BEHIND YOU.”

Simply alerting your co-workers is enough, unless they have their heads on the cloud. Always assume that people are carrying hot food when you are working in the kitchen.

3. Avoid overcrowding range tops.

The range top can be very hot, so avoid putting stuff on top of it.

4. Use dry potholders.

Dry potholders are slow to conduct heat. Use this to avoid burns.

5. Keep pot handles turned in from the edge of the range and open flames.

Pot handles can become very hot so do not expose them near open flames.

6. Avoid overfilling containers with hot foods.

Hot food can spill out, so avoid injuries by not overfilling the container with food.

7. Get help lifting heavy pots of hot foods.

Heavy loads should always be carried by two or more people to avoid injury. More so when you are carrying hot food as it can cause twice the injury.

8. Open lids of pots and doors of streamers away from you, and do so slowly, to avoid a steam burn.

Steam burn can be just as dangerous as direct contact burns. Stay clear of the steam.

9. Stir foods with long-handled spoons.

Long handled spoons will conduct heat slower than short handled spoons.

10. Warn others of hot surfaces.

This is the same as number two. Always warn the people you work with that something is hot.

11. Let equipment cool before cleaning, and do not use wet rags.

12. Do not put icy frozen foods into the fryer. Put foods slowly into the fryer and stand back to avoid being splattered.

Icy food can explode splatters in the fryer. So better tow the icy food first before putting it anywhere near the fryer.

13. Strike match before turning on gas equipment, to avoid a flare-up.

This is common sense. You have to light the match before the gas. Leaking gas out of the stove after striking the match can cause fires.

14. Wear closed-toe and closed-heel shoes that do not absorb liquids.

Water in the shoes can conduct heat as much as dry shoes.

15. Metal containers, foil or utensils should not be used in microwaves.

Avoid explosions and fires when operating a microwave. Be sure that you have read the operations manual and that you are using common sense when using the microwave.

16. Warn guests of hot dishes.

Same as tips 2 and 10. This time, you have to warn the guest if you are carrying hot dishes. This can really help you avoid injury and a lawsuit.

A lot of tips can be said about burns and how to avoid it. The best tip is to be aware and to always use common sense when dealing with potentially harmful items.