The owner of this chip shop in Brighton was fined £21,000 for breaching six fire regulations. There was only one smoke alarm (which didn’t work) and no emergency lighting. A fire risk assessment was not carried out, and the staff did not have any fire safety training.
An obvious danger is the oil catching fire in the fryers. Once oil gets to just under 400 degrees C, it reaches its fire point. Most modern fryers are thermostatically controlled, which significantly reduces this risk.
Extraction Ducting is designed to remove smoke, cooking vapours and steam from commercial kitchens. Over time, grease builds up on the inside of the ducting, often unseen. Once a fire takes hold in one part of the ducting, the grease acts as a fuse, and spreads through the building very quickly.
The Importance of Fire Risk Assessment
A fire risk assessment is a legal requirement, under Regulation 3 of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999. It’s good practice to review a fire risk assessment every year. If a business fails to do a fire risk assessment, the courts can impose a fine, and insurance companies may decline a claim.
Carrying out Regular Extraction Fan Cleaning
Regular fan and duct cleaning significantly reduces the likelihood of a fire developing at a premises. Most Insurance companies also require the policy holder to ensure that the ductwork is cleaned properly, and regularly.
Canopy Fan Cleaning complies to both the COSHH Regulations and fire risk assessments.