Common Gas Safety Hazards in Commercial Kitchens

The safety of people and properties against gas hazards has always been a prime concern of the authorities across the world, including the UK. Although gas is generally considered a safer energy, some serious threats are potentially associated with it, especially when it starts leaking. The consequences of an unattended and prolonged gas leak are even more serious. Similarly, the gas safety in a commercial unit is a more serious matter, as it involves a higher number of people, such as employees, customers, and other occupants. 

Commercial kitchens are a unique example of a high gas risk environment. That’s why gas safety in commercial kitchens is a crucial matter for property managers and business owners. It involves high-intensity cooking and the use of heavy gas equipment in a highly exposed environment. Accordingly, the risks of gas mishaps and accidents may increase manifold, especially when proper safety measures are not adopted. Hence, understanding common gas safety hazards that are most likely to occur in a commercial kitchen can help avoid such gas-related accidents. Doing so also ensures compliance with gas safety and building regulations, ultimately protecting employees, customers, and visitors, as well as the premises.

Understanding Commercial Kitchens 

The commercial kitchen is a specifically designed place where food is professionally prepared in high volumes on a commercial basis. Unlike domestic kitchens, a commercial kitchen typically handles heavy-duty cooking equipment for preparing food in bulk quantities. Such kitchens are meant to manage food supply to a large number of customers simultaneously. Hence, following the health and safety regulations is always at risk. However, it is the legal and moral duty of the managers and the business owners to ensure compliance with all relevant regulations, so as to protect the safety of customers and employees, especially against gas mishaps.

Commercial kitchens are typically meant to cater to the needs of the following commercial units:

• Commercial Kitchens are used in restaurants and cafés for cooking meals for the customers intending to dine in or take away.
• Hotels and Resorts use commercial kitchens to serve food to guests. The food can then be served either through room service, banquets, or buffets.
• Catering Companies are meant to provide meals for events attended by large numbers of participants, such as weddings, birthday parties, corporate or business functions, and festivals. That is only possible with a well-managed commercial kitchen.
• Schools, universities, and other educational institutions have to make meals in large volumes for students and employees, which are served through canteens. 
• A commercial kitchen is an essential part of hospitals and healthcare homes. They are meant to provide nutritious meals for patients, employees, and residents.
• Pubs and bars also need to make meals in large quantities to serve their clients alongside drinks and beverages. 
• The kitchen facilities used in food trucks also come under the definition of commercial kitchens. Such mobile setups require compact but highly powerful cooking facilities, as they have to serve meals to unlimited customers and that too in the minimum possible time. 

Vulnerabilities of Commercial Kitchens

1. Commercial kitchens use multiple gas appliances and equipment, such as cookers, grills, ovens, boilers, and ranges, which increases the possibility of gas mishaps.
2. Consistent overuse of gas appliances may have a negative impact on their functionality, leading to wear and tear. It increases the chances of malfunctioning, gas leaks, faulty burning, and emissions. 
3. Corroded or damaged parts of gas pipework may cause gas leaks. 
4. Accumulation of dirt and grease may result in blockage of vents, ultimately causing carbon monoxide poisoning. 
5. Untrained employees and a lack of proper safety protocols may result in accidental gas leaks, fire, or explosion. 
6. Poor maintenance of extensively used gas appliances is yet another major cause of a potential gas mishap in commercial kitchens. 

Common Gas Safety Hazards in Commercial Kitchens

The extensive use of gas appliances and high volumes of food preparation trigger many potential gas safety hazards in a commercial kitchen. 

Here are some of the most common gas safety hazards one may expect in commercial kitchens:

• Leakage of Gas

As they say, "Gas is safe until it remains confined within the pipes." A leaking gas is the most serious and dangerous event one can expect in a commercial kitchen. Apart from that, it is also the most common gas safety hazard in these kitchens. Gas leaks may occur due to damaged parts of a corroded gas pipe, loose connections and joints, and inadequate servicing and maintenance of gas appliances. 

The most serious risk associated with gas leaks is the possibility of the eruption of fire, as gas is highly flammable. A little spark may result in a huge fire and even an explosion. A prolonged and unattended gas leak may also result in suffocation, dizziness, and headaches, which are highly risky for human health. 

• Carbon Monoxide Poisoning

Carbon monoxide is a hazardous gas that is generated from a faulty gas appliance due to incomplete combustion. It is an odorless and colorless gas, but very dangerous for human health. The situation worsens even further when carbon monoxide is not completely vented due to inadequate ventilation. Accumulation of this gas results in carbon monoxide poisoning, which is a serious medical condition that may also lead to fatalities. 

Common symptoms of CO poisoning may include nausea, dizziness, headache, and unconsciousness. Due to the very high usage of gas appliances in a congested environment, commercial kitchens often face this serious situation if proper care is not practiced.

• Poorly Maintained Gas Appliances

Gas appliances need timely and proper maintenance. Since these are used consistently in a commercial kitchen with higher intensity, they need extra vigilant maintenance. A poorly maintained gas appliance results in malfunctioning, which is one of the major gas safety hazards in commercial kitchens. Such a situation may cause a buildup of hazardous gases, blockage of vents, and a higher risk of fire and explosion. A poorly maintained gas appliance may also cause carbon monoxide poisoning. 

• Incorrect Installation of Gas Appliances

A gas appliance is supposed to work perfectly, only when installed correctly, by a professional gas installer, strictly as per the guidelines of manufacturers and also by following the gas safety protocols. Any incorrect installation is very likely to cause malfunctioning of the appliances, which may lead to incomplete burning of gas or total failure of the appliance. Incorrect installation may also result in fire and explosion, or carbon monoxide poisoning.

• Poor Ventilation

The operations of a commercial kitchen involve a combustion process. The process of burning results in the emission of harmful gases, such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. The expulsion of these harmful gases is necessary to keep the internal atmosphere of a commercial kitchen safe for humans. An efficient ventilation system can achieve this. Poor ventilation may result in a buildup of these harmful gases within the kitchen, potentially leading to serious health issues, including carbon monoxide poisoning. Additionally, it also increases the probability of fire due to the accumulation of gases. 

• Inappropriate Gas Pressure

Every gas appliance is designed to work on a specific gas pressure. Anything higher or lower than the desired gas pressure may cause the malfunction of that appliance. The outcome of such an eventuality includes incomplete burning of gas, which may lead to the emission of carbon monoxide. It may also result in fire or explosion, in the case of a seriously malfunctioning gas appliance. Commercial kitchens are highly vulnerable to this hazard, as the gas appliances are consistently used for a continuous supply of meals. In this scenario, there is always a possibility of fluctuating gas pressure. 

• Improper Storage of Combustible Materials 

A commercial kitchen often has a large supply of combustible materials, such as cleaning supplies, paper products, cooking oils, and many other similar items. Such materials need safe storage away from gas appliances. If stored in close proximity to gas appliances, there is always a chance of an eruption of fire, especially if these are exposed to a flame.  

• Inadequate Staff Training

Proper training of employees to use gas appliances and deal with gas emergencies is an important factor in the safety of commercial kitchens. Lack of or inadequate training of employees may result in improper handling of gas appliances, which could be a major cause of a gas mishap. If the staff is not trained to handle gas emergency situations, it may lead to delayed responses, which may lead to serious gas accidents. 

Preventive Measures to Avoid These Hazards

• A registered Gas Safe engineer must conduct all gas work.
• Ensure that the commercial kitchen is inspected for gas safety on an annual basis, only by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
• Make sure that the commercial kitchen has a valid Commercial Gas Safety Certificate (CP 42), all times.
• Install a gas leak detector and a carbon monoxide detector in the commercial kitchen.
• Keep the kitchen well-ventilated.
• Keep the flues and chimneys free from any blockage.
• Keep the gas appliances in well-maintained condition.
• Conduct periodic inspections of the gas pipework to identify any damaged or rusty components.
• Fix the faulty gas appliances on the spot. 
• Train staff on how to safely handle gas appliances. 
• Train the staff on how to deal with gas emergencies. 

Conclusion

Commercial kitchens use gas appliances in extreme working conditions, as they have to prepare meals and food in large volumes, and that too at a fast pace. This may result in the overuse of these appliances. Moreover, the operational conditions within commercial kitchens are often very challenging, with numerous staff members working closely together. Similarly, the number of gas appliances being used in such kitchens is also on the higher side. All these factors make a commercial kitchen highly susceptible to gas safety hazards. 

Common gas safety hazards in a commercial kitchen may include gas leaks, inadequate ventilation, improper installation of gas appliances, malfunctioning of one or more gas appliances, and the emission of harmful gases. Unlike domestic kitchens, a commercial kitchen needs an extra bit of care and vigilance to mitigate such hazards. The most relevant safety measures may include compliance with the Gas Safety Regulations and utilizing the services of a Gas Safe Registered engineer to work on the gas appliances.