Kitchen Hot Objects


Issue	Hazard	Possible solutions	Check it
Boiling water	Hot water splashes over employee's hand due to tap on urn leaking or not shutting off correctly. Hot water splashes over employee's hand after striking a spoon in the cup during filling. Piped boiling water supply is hot enough to scald.	Check tap operation periodically. If action is loose or sloppy have urn serviced and/or tap replaced. Place sign on urn or adjacent to boiling water tap warning users not to leave spoon in cup whilst filling. Have water temperature of boiling water supply reduced to eliminate risk of scalding.
Hotplates	Hotplates or burners which remain hot enough to cause burning.	When purchasing cooktop, select one which has warning lights to alert users to hot surfaces. Place sign on cooktop or at rear warning employees of risk of burning from hot surface.
Oven shelves, trays	Grasping oven shelves which are hot enough to cause burning. Removing oven trays with food on them at completion of heating.	Provide good quality oven mitts on a hook at side of oven where these can be kept for use. Place sign on oven door or adjacent surface warning employees of risk of burning from oven surfaces and advisability of using oven mitts.
Sandwich makers, toasters	Fingers contact heated platens of sandwich maker whilst inserting or removing a sandwich. Contact with the exterior surface of a kitchen appliance which has defective insulation.	Provide a Teflon-coated slice tool or lifter for placing and removing sandwiches. Remove and replace any kitchen appliance where touching the exterior can cause a burn.
Hot food, drink	Recently-cooked/heated food which is hot enough to cause burning of fingers or the inside of the mouth. Drinks which are hot enough to cause burning of hands or scalding of the mouth.	Alert employees to possibility of recently-cooked food being hot enough to burn and suggest they allow it to stand for a short time before consumption. Place warning sign on door of microwave oven warning of risk of burning from liquids immediately after microwaving.

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Page last updated:August 28, 2008