Increase Employee Safety with Commercial Garbage Disposal Alternative
To keep up with a busy lunch or dinner rush, employees in your commercial kitchen should be moving with a sense of urgency. But sometimes this fast paced environment can increase the odds of an injured employee.
There are many reasons to improve employee safety. First and foremost, good employees are hard to find and you don’t want to lose a valuable employee for an extended period of time due to a workplace injury. And it’s bad for employee morale when someone gets injured.
Next, injuries that happen in the middle of a busy rush compound the stress, because you’ll often lose not only the injured employee, but another employee or manager who has to drive them to get medical attention.
And the more reports of injury you have, the higher the costs for your workers compensation insurance.
From handling broken dishes to installing a safer commercial garbage disposal alternative, prioritizing safety is paramount in commercial kitchens.
Preventing Slip and Fall Accidents
One of the most common hazards in a commercial kitchen is the risk of slipping and falling. These incidents often occur due to wet or greasy floors. Maintaining a rigorous cleaning schedule is crucial to avoid such accidents.
Immediate cleaning of spills, use of anti-slip mats, and proper footwear can greatly reduce the risk. Additionally, organizing the workspace to minimize the need for hurried movements can decrease the likelihood of slip and fall injuries.
Many slip and fall accidents happen because an employee is carrying a heavy bus tub full of dishes and can’t see where they are walking. Anything left on the floor that should be up on a counter can cause them to fall, break a lot of items and possibly injure themselves.
Addressing Back Strains
Back strains are another frequent concern, often resulting from improper lifting techniques or continuous standing. To combat this, training employees on safe lifting practices is essential. Emphasize the need to lift with the legs, not the back, and to ask for help with heavy loads.
Carts or dollies are excellent tools for transporting heavy loads like beer kegs or whole cases of food.
Ergonomic mats and supportive footwear can alleviate the strain of long periods of standing. Also, encouraging regular breaks can help staff to rest and reset, reducing the risk of strain injuries.
Reducing Cuts and Burns
Cuts and burns are hazards inherent to the kitchen environment. Sharp knives and hot surfaces are commonplace, but their risk can be mitigated. Proper training in knife handling, including keeping knives sharp and using appropriate cutting techniques, can significantly lower the chances of cuts.
A lot of cuts also happen from broken plates and dishes. Don’t throw them in the trash. Another employee won’t know they’re in the trash can and can cut themselves.
Instead, put these shards in a box with a trash liner and immediately take them out to the dumpster.
For burn prevention, enforcing the use of protective gear like oven mitts and providing training on handling hot equipment safely is key. Regular maintenance of equipment to ensure it’s in good working condition can also prevent unexpected accidents.
Commercial kitchens are highly susceptible to fires thanks to the presence of open flames, hot surfaces, and combustible materials.
This requires fire extinguishers to be installed at accessible locations. It is imperative that your staff be trained on their proper use. Furthermore, regularly inspect and maintain kitchen equipment and ventilation systems to prevent the buildup of grease. This reduces the risk of a fire greatly.
Fostering a Culture of Safety
Cultivating a culture of safety within the kitchen staff is vital. This involves regular safety meetings, open communication about potential hazards, and encouraging employees to speak up if they notice unsafe conditions.
When staff members feel responsible for not only their safety but also that of their colleagues, a more proactive and preventive approach to workplace safety develops.
Keep Employees Safe with Our Commercial Garbage Disposal Alternative
One of the more dangerous items in your dishroom is your commercial garbage disposal. If the motor gets jammed from mangled silverware and someone tries to remove it without turning off the power, it can lead to a serious injury.
The Drain Strainer™ can help you avoid issues with what gets put down your 3 compartment sinks. No matter how much you focus on employee training, short cuts are always going to be taken and items are going to be put down your foodservice disposer that can harm it.
If you want to avoid issues with clogged grease traps or commercial disposers that are leaking or have burned out motors, The Drain Strainer™ is an effective and affordable commercial garbage disposal alternative that doesn’t have any sharp blades and it doesn’t require the use of water or electricity.
Invented by a former restaurant owner, The Drain Strainer™ can eliminate issues with mangled silverware or dangers from employees putting their hands down the commercial garbage disposal trying to clear out a clog.
Click here to find out more about how our wet waste collector can keep food solids out of your grease trap, so you won’t need to schedule grease trap cleaning as often.
Let The Drain Strainer™ keep your commercial sinks running smoothly by capturing food solids and avoiding any drain problems.
Improving employee safety in commercial kitchens requires a multifaceted approach. It’s about creating an environment where safety is a priority, having equipment for your employees that places a premium on their safety and making sure every team member is equipped and empowered to contribute to a safer workplace.
By addressing the risks and fostering a culture that prioritizes safety, commercial kitchens can be both efficient and safe spaces for all employees.