Fire is a potential hazard faced by all commercial kitchens. It only takes a small spark at the right time or forgetting to perform a proper grease trap cleaning, to set a restaurant ablaze. Through appropriate employee training and following OSHA’s fire safety standards, a restaurant owner will reduce the chance of fire damage to their restaurant, employees, and customers. Here are a few fire hazards and tips to prevent them.

3 Fire Hazards and How to Prevent Them

1. Grease Trap Cleaning

Grease traps, or grease interceptors, generally have to be cleaned every three months. A proper grease trap cleaning will depend on the number of customers, the size of the grease trap, and the type of food cooked. Fats, oils, and grease (FOG) fill the trap, which is a cocktail for a potential fire. If paper or other flammable objects are present in the grease trap, it will ignite them as other hot oils or grease enters the trap. If you perform the grease trap cleaning every three months, but lately have had a 50% increase in customers, then the trap should be changed sooner. You should call a professional to empty the trap as there is special equipment necessary to transport and remove the FOG from the septic system.

2. Poor Housekeeping

Restaurants are full of flammable material, from cooking oils to chemical cleaners, so it’s essential to keep these materials appropriately stored. Areas where dust and garbage collect and where you discard food are potential fire hazards. Dust in restaurants combines with grease molecules and sticks to the walls and other surfaces, making them potentially flammable. Garbage and food waste will include items from customers, and what they throw away is always an unknown.

3. Kitchen Hazards

Reaching over an open flame with a piece of clothing or towel is dangerous. If it catches fire, your instinct is to throw the item, and from there, the fire potential increases. Additionally, you must report frayed wiring as soon as it’s spotted. Sparks will cause fires as easily as an open flame. Fryers may not directly start a fire, but they are a burning hazard for employees.

If you need a grease trap cleaning, J & J Septic & Sewer Cleaning is here to help. Located in Waterloo, IL, and serving Monroe, Madison, St. Clair, and Randolph Counties, their septic and sewer cleaning services include; excavating, grading, trenching, aeration system cleaning, and much more. Call (618) 939-3001 today to find out how they can help you, or visit their website for a list of services.