Fire Safety Tips for Restaurant Owners

8/2/2021 (Permalink)

Accidents happen, but the most prepared restaurant owners are best able to protect their staff and their property.

Restaurant kitchens are filled with open flames, electrical equipment, and fast-moving employees, which unfortunately can all serve as fire hazards. In fact, the National Fire Data Center reports that the United States suffers from approximately $165 million in damages every year, with the cost of each fire ranging from an average of $1,000 to $60,000, depending on the severity. More than just property damage, fires threaten the safety of your employees, customers, and profitability of your business as a whole.

Even though accidents happen, you want to make sure that you and your team are best suited to prevent a disaster before it occurs and minimize any possibility of harm.  

Here are some of the top fire safety tips for restaurant owners:

Know The Risks of Your Facility

You should take time to inspect any unique risks or hazards in your facility. This includes taking note of potentially flammable liquids, electrical equipment, or combustible materials. When inspecting your property, make sure that all fire safety equipment, like fire extinguishers, are up to date and in the correct place.

Regularly Inspect Fire Extinguishers and Equipment

For fire extinguishers, you should check their functionality at least once a month and up to fire code standards. It is important to test fire alarms and make sure they are functioning properly to alert your staff and customers in case of an emergency. This also includes inspecting your exit signs and emergency lights to ensure they work if the power is cut off. Making sure all of these measures are functioning properly can ensure the safety of everyone.

Conduct Staff Training

Around 75% of Americans have never actually operated a fire extinguisher. For fire safety, all of your staff should go through hands-on training, so they know what to do in an emergency. In some cases, local fire departments may be willing to conduct fire safety training with your team. Your staff should also be aware of basic kitchen fire safety tips such as never throw water on a grease fire, clean up grease regularly, and the proper storage of flammable liquids.

Install a Fire Suppression System in the Kitchen

Due to the fact that over half of restaurant fires occur as a result of mishandling of equipment, a fire suppression system is necessary to control these accidents. A fire suppression system is used to control or extinguish fires and release clean gases to put out a fire when a hazard is detected. Your fire suppression systems should be inspected and maintained by a professional at least twice a year. These automatic systems can be a literal life saver during an emergency.

At SERVPRO of Pompano Beach, we have decades of experience in fire damage repair and restoration. When disaster strikes, we are the local company that you can count on.