Kitchen Hazards

Kitchen Hazards

Common Kitchen Hazards
By Joseph Devine - Ezinearticles

Typically, the kitchen is by and far the most dangerous room in a house. Powerful appliances, sharp utensils, heavy pots, and very hot surfaces are all located in the kitchen. If a homeowner or occupant fails to take the proper precautions when working around these items, then dangers will arise.

Common sense is oftentimes enough to protect homeowners, their children, and their guests from any kitchen hazards that may come up. By monitoring hot surfaces, storing items safely, turning pot handles inward when cooking, and keeping the sink and counters clean, you can evade most kitchen dangers.

Kitchen Fires

Because kitchens house so many hot appliances, it is easy for a period of negligent behavior to result in an unwanted fire. There are several ways that kitchen fires may arise:

• Dry fires occur when all of the water boils out of a hot pot of pan and the food inside of it scorches or catches fire. Typically, these are minor fires that result in more smoke damage than anything else.
• Oven fires happen when food being cooked inside catches aflame. Typically, they are contained inside of the oven so, like dry fires, they are typically relatively minor.
• Grease fires are the most dangerous type of kitchen fire, and they are sparked when grease inside a pot or pan becomes too hot and ignites. They often result in an open flame, which can spread rapidly and catch other items on fire.
• In order to protect yourself against kitchen fires, keep all combustibles away from open flames and make sure you monitor all heated surfaces.

Children in the Kitchen

Many times, mothers and babysitters will have to work in the kitchen and watch their children at the same time. This combination can be a recipe for disaster if the supervising adult behaves negligently. One of the best things you can do is set up a nearby playpen in which the children remain within your eyesight and earshot, but away from the dangers of a kitchen.

If erecting a playpen is not an option for you, then you should safeguard the kids by securing cabinets with child locks, keeping knife and other sharp objects well out of reach, storing heavy items securely, unplugging appliances when not in use, and removing tablecloths (they - and the items on top of them - can be pulled off by a curious child).

Kitchen Hazards