Safety isn’t just important to the well being of yourself and your staff in the shared kitchen, it is also the law! Those with a negative outlook may think that danger lies around every corner, and those with a positive outlook on everything may blithely overlook the pitfalls, but everyone can benefit from these top five ways to make the shared kitchen safer.
Clean Your Shared Kitchen as You Go
Spills happen, and while it is easy to say to yourself you will take care of that later, it only takes a second for an unprepared employee to slip, fall, and be knocked out of the “game” at the most inopportune times. So sweep up the sugar that fell to the floor, take that extra moment it takes to kneel down and wipe up the greasy spill, knowing that every second you “waste” cleaning up after yourself can be easily made up, but the time lost because you or your staff broke a wrist when they slipped on the water that boiled over can cause devastating consequences in the success of your business. Not sure what cleaning products you should already have in your commercial kitchen? Click here to find out!
Invest in a First Aid Kit
A well-stocked first aid kit should actually be the first thing you purchase for your food industry business. Anyone who has ever worked in front of a stove knows that accidents happen, but a properly prepared business owner can keep them from being catastrophic. Restaurant first aid kits come in a variety of sizes, styles, and prices, and although we believe in saving money, investing in your safety is not one of those times where you should be quibbling over cost!
Keep Your Equipment in Top Shape
Of course, the major equipment found in our shared kitchen is regularly inspected to ensure that all meet the safety codes required by law (and common sense!) but the equipment you bring in on your own should be inspected on a regular basis as well. If glass cookware is your preferred choice, make sure there are no cracks before use, and keep your knives sharp! Dull knifes can increase the chances for deeper cuts and besides, they create more work when you are trying to prep the food you are creating for your business.
Understand How Food Allergies Work
Having a client suffer an allergic reaction to a meal you have prepared can be the scariest part of business, but if you are aware of how allergies work, you can circumvent most issues. Designating a section of the workspace for preparing foods that contain common allergens is one way of staying safe, as is asking potential clients detailed questions about their allergies.
Know the Rules
Food safety is the most important aspect of your job, and although it may be tedious wading your way through the rules and regulations, it will help ensure that your business moves to the top of the crowd! And because we want to help you succeed, BLT Kitchens provides a resource page on our website, filled with links to the codes, rules, and applications for food handling permits, making it easier for you to stay on top of it all! Check out our resource page on your lunch hour and discover how much you already know or how much you have yet to learn!