CCP - Safety Measures In Catering

Safety in catering refers to the precautional measures
applied in a catering establishment to totally avoid or in some cases reduce the occurrence of accidents and ensure that food and beverages served to clients are safe for consumption.

Accident is an unexpected circumstantial happening resulting into pains and discomfort.Accidents though can be avoided if necessary precautions are taken.

Safety Measures In Catering

• Observe personal safety measures while in the kitchen
• Clean up the floor immediately if there's any spillage.
• All utensils especially sharp ones should be kept in the right place.
• Keen observance of the gas cylinders to ensure there are no leaks.
• Cleaning equipments such as broom, dust pan must be kept in the right place.
• Broken glasses or ceramics must be disposed properly.
• Worn out loosed edge carpets should be changed to avoid fall.

Note that a huge percentage of accidents in the catering industry occurs in the kitchen.

Common Accidents In The Catering Industry

1.Electricity Induced Accident

This is caused as a result of carefree attitude with electric appliances such as cooker,water heater,microwave oven etc.

A careless use of electrical appliances could result in electric shock or damage of the appliances. These appliances must also be turned off and unplugged immediately after use.


2. Mechanical Equipment Induced Accident

This is a type of accident caused as a result of mishandling mechanical equipments such as a knife which results in a knife cut.

Caterers should learn the proper use of each tool and be careful not to get distracted..

3.Human Errors

Accidents can occur as a result of common mistakes made by a chef,cook or waiter.

4.Fall

This type of accident might be caused by a number of factors. such as spilled ingredient or shoes with a high heel.
At the event of a fall, severe injuries may result.

5. Fire Accident

This sometimes appears as the most devastating accident that can occur in a catering establishment.
This is the combustion of flammable items and can lead to injuries like burn, cuts and scars.
In extreme cases, it could result to fire outbreak in the catering building which can claim a lot of lives.

Fire Fighting Equipments and Uses

1.Fire Extinguisher
This is a cylindrical metal equipment which contains a substance that stops fire.

2.Red Bucket  & Sand
A bucket filled with dry sand. This sand can be used to put off the initial source of fire before other fire fighting equipments are provided.

3.Fire Alarm Detector
This device is installed on a wall and rings an alarm at the detection of smoke in a room.

Importance Of Fire Fighting Equipments

1. To protect lives.
2. To ensure security and serve as an insurance in times of fire accident.
3. To prevent avoidable fire.
4. To guarantee clients safety and security.
5. To assist fire service officials.

Safety Signs In Catering

The image below depicts common safety signs in the catering industry.

First aid equipments must be made readily available to care for victims of unavoidable accidents which may still occur in a catering firm.

We are done!