Safety in the kitchen

Around 60 per cent of accidental fires in the home start in the kitchen. Taking a few simple measures can make all the difference.

Make your kitchen safe

• Keep electrical leads, tea towels, cloths, loose clothing and anything else that may catch fire away from the oven and hob.
• Keep the oven, hob and grill clean – a build-up of fat and grease can easily catch fire.
• Keep your toaster clean, free of crumbs and away from curtains, kitchen rolls and anything else that could catch fire.
• Never put anything metallic inside your microwave.
• Never attempt to sterilise dish cloths or sponges by heating them in the microwave.
• Never overload sockets – use one plug in each socket. If you have to, use a fused adapter and keep the total output to no more than 13 amps (a kettle alone uses 13 amps). Remember, high-rated appliances such as washing machines always need their own socket.
• Make sure plugs have the correct fuse for the appliance being used. If in doubt, refer to the manufacturers instructions.
• Turn off electrical appliances when not being used and have them serviced regularly.  
• Keep electrical leads and appliances away from water.
• Use a spark device to light gas cookers as this is safer than using matches or lighters.
• Never leave children alone in the kitchen. Keep matches, lighters and pan handles where children can’t reach them. Fit a child safety catch to the oven door.
• Keep handles of pans turned to the back of the hob and away from other gas burners/electric rings.
• Take pans off the heat and turn off the hob and/or grill if you have to leave the kitchen while cooking, and make sure the oven, hob and grill is turned off when you have finished cooking.
• Avoid cooking if you are tired, have been drinking alcohol or are taking medication that can make you drowsy.

Chip pans / hot fat frying

• Never fill a pan more than a third full with fat or oil.
• Dry chips/food before putting them in the pan.
• If the oil has started smoking turn off the heat and leave the oil to cool down, otherwise it may catch fire.
• Turn off the hob if you have to leave the kitchen whilst cooking.

If your pan catches fire:

• Don't panic and don’t take risks.
• Don't move the pan.
• Never throw water or use a fire extinguisher on a hot fat fire.
• If it's safe to do so - turn off the heat, but never lean over the pan to reach the controls.
• Leave the kitchen, close the door behind you, tell everyone else in the home to get out and don’t go back inside for any reason.
• Call 999