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Your kitchen is one of the most important rooms in your home, and one of the most used. Cooking meals and eating around the table will be second nature for a lot of families, but unfortunately, the kitchen is a place that can pose some dangers. With the right tools and knowledge, you can equip yourself to deal with any problems that may arise, and minimize the risks. Whether you are renovating your kitchen, or just want to increase the safety measures, here are some of the most common kitchen hazards to look out for, and how you can avoid them.

#1 Fire 

Cooking is one of the leading causes of fires in domestic homes, mostly as a result of unattended cooking. Fires can also occur due to faulty equipment, electrical appliances, and oil catching alight. Unfortunately, fires can be detrimental to your home, and cause a significant amount of damage if they are not contained. They will often lead to needing smoke damage restoration.  

To avoid a fire in your kitchen, you should always:

• Safety check new and existing appliances

• Monitor food that you are cooking, and set timers where needed

• Keep any flammable materials away from your oven

• Clean up any spills and mess that you make 

• Turn off appliances when they are not being used 

#2 Slips and falls 

Slips and falls are common in the kitchen, due to the increased number of hazards, such as spilled water or oil, and the number of utensils and bigger items being used at any one time. A person may slip on a spilt substance, fall while trying to reach an item from a high shelf, or not pay attention to their surroundings, as a kitchen can be full of people, items and mess when it is being used for cooking. 

To avoid slips and falls in the kitchen, you should:

• Alert other people in your home when it is being used for cooking 

• Clean up any spills or substances that fall on the floor 

• Make sure the flooring is even and not broken or damaged in places

• Don’t rush around the kitchen when you are cooking

• Make sure ladders or steps are secure before reaching for items on a high shelf 

#3 Not storing equipment properly 

The kitchen hosts a variety of equipment, and the way these items are stored is vital to keeping it clean, clear of clutter, and safe for the rest of your family. A disorganized kitchen can cause more hazards than necessary and increase the risk of injury. From an unhygienic workspace and food poisoning to tripping on big items, the kitchen is a big risk and should be organized properly. 

Make sure you store your equipment properly by: 

• Keeping your fridge at the right temperature 

• Checking how to properly store each item of food 

• Storing allergic food in a separate place

• Storing heavy items below waist level

• Having a step or ladder to reach higher items

• Keeping utensils and equipment in an orderly manner

• Storing away items you do not use 

• Using child locks and protectors where necessary

An unsafe kitchen can cause life-threatening injuries and damage if you are not careful. Make sure you turn your kitchen into a safe environment for your family.