You finally own the restaurant you have always dreamed of. It is in the perfect location, you have perfected the menu and the ambience is just as you dreamed. You think everything is taken care of, but if you have not bought restaurants insurance, everything is not taken care of. Overlooking the need for insurance for your restaurant could be one of the biggest mistakes you make and could cause you to lose your dream restaurant. The risk of kitchen fires is huge and could cause you major financial loss. Training your employees to understand a few steps they can take to keep everyone safe is the best thing you can do as a restaurant owner.
Personal Upkeep
All employees should keep all loose hair tied back and ensure all clothing is tight fitting, reducing the risk of loose material catching on fire. Employees should take caution to ensure no personal belongings are in the kitchen and there are no flammable items near the fire.
De-Clutter the Kitchen
A cluttered kitchen is a fire hazard. If a fire were to break out, it could spread much easier if the kitchen is cluttered with debris the fire can latch onto. Cluttered walkways and other areas also make it more difficult for employees and patrons to exit the building safely, putting everyone at higher risk from a kitchen fire.
Use the Fire Suppression System
All employees in the kitchen should fully understand how to use the fire suppression system, as well as the fire extinguisher. This will allow employees to not only call the fire department but also start the suppression system to get the fire out before it gets out of hand. Employees should never try to handle the flames on their own; activating the suppression system and getting everyone out should be the main concern.
Stop, Drop and Roll
Just like you learned as a child, everyone should be reminded of the stop, drop and roll rule in the case of a fire. Employees should also understand they should never throw water on a grease fire. The kitchen should be equipped with a Class K fire extinguisher that is acceptable to put out grease fires.
If you own a restaurant, it is important to have restaurants insurance to protect yourself in the event of a kitchen fire. It is a high risk for any kitchen, especially those that do not follow proper precautions or cook with grease. Take care to follow the precautions and reduce the risk of your restaurant starting on fire.
To learn more about why you need to consider restaurants insurance, visit RSI-Insurance.com.
