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Fire Prevention -Cooking

Equipment and Machinery

Common causes of fire in equipment are;

•Allowing ventilation points to become clogged or blocked causing overheating.
•Inadequate cleaning of heat-shrink packaging equipment such that is used in in-store bakeries.
•Allowing extraction equipment in catering environments to build up excessive grease deposits.
•Misuse or lack of maintenance of cooking equipment and appliances.
•Disabling or interfering with automatic or manual safety features and cut-outs.

All machinery, apparatus and office equipment should be properly maintained by a competent person. Appropriate signs and instructions on safe use may be necessary.

Heating

Individual heating appliances require particular care if they are to be used safely, particularly those which are kept for an emergency use during a power cut or as supplementer heating during severe weather. The greatest risks arise from lack of maintenance and staff unfamiliar with them. Heaters should preferably be secured in position when in use and fitted with a fire guard if appropriate.

As a general rule, convector or fan heaters should be preferred to radiant heaters because they present a lower risk of fire and injury.

The following rules should be observed;

•All heaters should be kept clear of combustible materials and where they do not cause an obstruction.
•Heaters which burn a fuel should be sited away from draughts.
•Portable fuel burning heaters including bottled gas (LPG) should only be used in exceptional circumstances and if shown to be acceptable in your fire risk assessment.

All gas heating appliances should be only used in accordance with manufacture`s instructions and should be serviced annually by a competent person. In general staff should be discouraged from bringing in their own portable heaters and other electrical equipment(e.g. kettles) into the premises.

Cooking processes

Typical installations used in cooking processes include deep fat fryers, ovens, grills, surface cookers, ductwork, flues, filters, hoods, extract and ventilation ducts and dampers.

These cooking processes can operate with high temperatures, involving large quantities of oil and combustible food stuffs. Heat sources used for cooking processes include; gas, electric and microwave. The main cause of fire are ignition of cooking oil, combustion of crumbs and sediment deposits, and ductwork fires from a build up of fats and grease.

The siting of cooking processes close to insulated core panels with combustible insulation can lead to the likely ignition of the panels and consequent rapid fire spread to other parts of the building, this practice should therefore be avoided.

The following should be considered to reduce the risk from cooking processes;

•Regular cleaning to prevent build up of crumbs and other combustible material.
•Fire resistant containers for waste products.
•A fire suppression system capable of controlling an outbreak of fire.
•Monitoring heat/oil levels, even after the cooking process is complete and installation of temperature control/cut off devices as appropriate.
•Ducts, joints and supports able to withstand high cooking temperatures.
•Separation from wall and ceiling panels (with combustible insulation) e.g. 2.5m for walls, 4m for ceilings.
•Insulation of ducts to prevent heating/ignition of nearby combustible wall and ceiling materials.
•A regular programme for inspection and cleaning.
•A programme of electrical and mechanical maintenance.
•Annual service of all gas heating appliances by a competent person.

Fire risk prevention measures

This section provides further information on evaluating the risk of fire and it`s prevention in your premises. You should spend time developing long-term workable and effective strategies to reduce hazards and the risk of a fire starting. At its simplest this means separating flammable materials from ignition sources.

Housekeeping

Good housekeeping will lower the chances of a fire starting, so the accumulation of combustible materials in all premises should be monitored carefully. Good housekeeping is essential to reduce the chances of escape routes and fire doors becoming blocked or obstructed.

Keep waste materials in suitable containers before it is removed from the premises. If bins, particularly wheeled bins, are used outside, secure them in a compound to prevent them being moved to a position next to the building and set on fire. Never place skips against a building they should normally be a minimum of 6m away from any part of premises.

If you generate a considerable quantity of combustible waste material then you may need to develop a formal plan to manage this effectively. In higher risk areas you need to make sure arrangements are in place for close down, e.g. checking all appliances are turned off and combustible waste has been removed.

Storage

Many of the materials found on your premises will be combustible. If your premises have inadequate or poorly managed storage areas then the risk of fire is likely to be increased, the more combustible materials you store the greater the source of fuel for a fire. Poorly arranged storage could prevent equipment such as sprinklers working effectively.

Combustible materials are not just those generally regarded as highly combustible, such as polystyrene, but all materials that will readily catch fire, however, by carefully considering the type of material, the quantities kept and the storage arrangements, the risks can be significantly reduced. In offices the retention of large quantities of paper records, especially if not filed away in proprietary cabinets, can increase the fire hazard. Such readily available flammable material makes the potential effect of arson more serious.

To reduce the risk, store excess materials and stock in a dedicated storage area, storeroom or cupboard. Do not store excess stock in areas where the public would normally have access. Do not pile combustible materials against electrical heaters or equipment, even if turned off for the summer, and do not allow smoking in areas where combustible materials are stored.


Dangerous substances: Display, storage and use

Specific precautions are required when handling and storing dangerous substances to minimise the possibility of an incident. Your supplier should be able to provide you with detailed advice on safe storage and handling, however, the following principles will help you reduce the risk from fire:
Substitute highly flammable substances and materials with less flammable ones.

Correctly store dangerous substances, e.g in a fire resistant enclosure. All flammable liquids and gases should be locked away, especially when the premises are un-occupied, to reduce the chance of them being used in an arson attack.
Reduce the quantity of dangerous substances to the smallest reasonable amount necessary for running the business or organisation.

Ensure that you and your employees are aware of the fire risk the dangerous substances present and the precautions necessary to avoid danger.

Additional general fire precautions may be needed to take account of the additional risks that may be posed by the storage and use of these substances. Certain substances are by their nature, highly flammable, oxidising or potentially explosive. These substances are controlled by other legislation in addition to fire safety law, in particular the dangerous substances and explosives atmospheres regulations 2002.

Flammable liquids

Highly flammable liquids present a particularly high fire risk, for example, a leak from a container of flammable solvents, such as methylated spirit, will produce large quantities of heavier than air flammable vapours. These can travel long distances, increasing the likelihood of them reaching a source of ignition well away from the original leak, such as a basement containing heavy plant and/or electrical equipment on automatic timers.

The risk is reduced by ensuring the storage and use of highly flammable liquids is carefully managed, that materials contaminated with solvent are properly disposed of and when not in use, they are safely stored. Up to 50 litres may be stored in a fire resistant cabinet or bin that will contain any leaks.

In retail premises the quantity of flammable liquids on display should be kept to the minimum to meet business needs. There should be no potential ignition sources in areas where flammable liquids are used or stored and flammable concentrations may be present. Any electrical equipment used in these areas, including fire alarm and emergency lighting systems, needs to be suitable for use in flammable atmospheres. In such situations it is recommended you seek advice from a competent person.

Electricity

How safe is electricity in your workplace?

Electricity can kill. Most deaths are caused by contact with overhead or underground power cables. Even nonfatal shocks can cause severe and permanent injury. Shocks from faulty equipment may lead to falls from ladders, scaffolds or other work platforms. Those using electricity may not be the only ones at risk. Poor electrical installations and faulty electrical appliances can lead to fires which can also result in death or injury to others.

Does anyone do electrical work in your business? Only those with appropriate technical knowledge and experience should be allowed to do this.
Is your electrical equipment in good working order?
Do you choose equipment that is suitable for its working environment, eg waterproof or dustproof?
Do you dig in the street, pavement or near buildings? Knowing the proper precautions for avoiding underground cables is essential.
Do you work near or under overhead powerlines? There are essential safety precautions to follow.

What law applies?

Electricity at Work Regulations 1989

Work equipment and machinery

Do you know how to select and use your work equipment?

Work equipment covers an enormous range spanning process machinery, machine tools, office machines, lifting equipment, hand tools, ladders and pressure washers. Important points include: selecting the right equipment for the job, making sure equipment is safe to use and keeping it safe through regular maintenance, inspection and, if appropriate, thorough examination, training employees to use equipment safely and following manufacturers’ or suppliers’ instructions. Accidents involving work equipment happen all the time – many serious, some fatal.

Do you use ladders or other equipment for working at heights? For example, it may often be safer to use an access tower or mobile elevating work platform than a ladder.
Do you have machinery of any kind? You need to guard the parts that could cause injury; have the right controls, especially for starting and stopping; clean, or clear blockages in a safe way; and carry out preventive checks, maintenance and inspection.
Are hand tools used in your workplace, eg screwdrivers, knives, hand saws, meat cleavers, hammers?
Do you have lifting equipment such as pulley blocks, cranes, and lift trucks?

Most lifting equipment will require regular thorough examination by a competent person.

What law applies?

Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998
Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 1992, as amended 1994

Maintenance and building work

What maintenance and building work takes place?

It’s easy to overlook these activities because they happen now and again, and it’s often a contractor or service agency doing the work. Sometimes people are in places where no one normally goes, eg the roof or electrical switchboard. They may be fault finding, trying to repair something quickly – often outside the routine. Not surprisingly there are many accidents. Falls from heights, eg ladders, are the most common cause of serious injury.

Did you know that if you are the person responsible for your business, you are also responsible for contractors, service engineers, etc who do work for you?
Does anyone ever have to work on the roof, at a height or on fragile materials?
Does anyone have to fault find and repair machinery or equipment when it breaks down?
Is there a tank, pit, silo or similar confined space into which someone might go– and would you know if they did?
Have you found out whether there is any asbestos in your buildings or plant which could be disturbed during maintenance or alterations?

What law applies?

Construction (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1996 (building work)
Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
Confined Spaces Regulations 1997
Work at Height Regulations 2005