6 Common Kitchen Hazards

2/13/2023 (Permalink)

It's important to be aware of the dangers in your kitchen and take steps to avoid them.

A kitchen is a place of great activity. It is where we prepare our meals and snacks, where we store food, and often even where we relax at the end of a long day. However, it can also be one of the most dangerous places in the home if you are not careful. Here are six common kitchen hazards to watch out for.

Overloaded Outlets

Overloaded outlets are a common problem in many homes. If you have too many appliances plugged into an outlet, or if you're using a power strip with too many devices connected to it, it's easy for the circuit breaker to trip and shut off power to the entire room. It is also a recipe for electrical fires. 

Burns

Burns are common in the kitchen, and many of them are preventable. Avoid touching hot surfaces with your hands: This is a simple accident that can be avoided by wearing oven mitts when handling hot items, or using tongs or other tools instead. Remember to always place pan and pot handles away from burners.

Cuts

Cuts are among the most common kitchen injuries. They can be prevented by using a cutting board and sharp knife, as well as avoiding using your hand as a cutting tool and never cutting towards yourself.

Fires

A kitchen fire can start from many different sources: grease or oil splatters on hot surfaces like an electric burner or stovetop; oil spills left unattended; unattended cooking; and electrical wiring malfunctions or short circuits.

If you have a fire extinguisher, make sure it is in a location where everyone can see it, and that everyone knows where it is. If you have a fire, stay calm and call 911.

Gas Leaks

Gas leaks are likely to occur in your kitchen due to the high use of appliances that use natural gas such as ovens and stoves. Natural gas is a colorless, odorless, flammable gas. It can be found in the air we breathe and comes from natural sources like decaying vegetation and animal waste. Natural gas leaks can be dangerous because they can cause fires and explosions.

Hidden Water Leaks

A hidden water leak is one that you may not even know about. It can cause serious damage to your home and lead to mold growth, which has implications for you and your property. Common leaks seen in kitchens include dishwasher leaks, refrigerator leaks, and pipe leaks. 

It's important to be aware of the dangers in your kitchen and take steps to avoid them. Keeping your home safe is a responsibility that you can't take lightly. If your home does suffer from a kitchen fire, don't hesitate and give our SERVPRO of Ozone Park/Jamaica Bay team a call for all your cleanup and restoration needs.