Running a professional kitchen isn’t easy. There are staffing issues, supply issues and equipment breakdowns to contend with. And all the while, you have to satisfy hungry tummies. But, what about making sure your kitchen is compliant with UK regulations? Do you know what you need to do to make your kitchen safe, compliant and legal?
We’ve seen every type of kitchen in our 35-year history. Big, small and everything in between. This is what we check at all of our kitchens. And it’s what you should check too.
Are you gas safe?
Annual gas safety check – It is a legal requirement to maintain your gas appliances, so make sure you don’t miss your annual gas safety check. If gas appliances are not properly maintained, it can cause unnecessary breakdowns and in the worst-case scenario make the equipment dangerous. All checks should be carried out by a fully qualified engineer.
Gas interlock systems – Gas Safe regulations and BS6173 require a gas interlock system to be fitted in all new commercial kitchens. And when replacing certain pieces of equipment in older kitchens.
So, if you’ve had a new extraction canopy fitted, your kitchen could pose a risk without a gas interlock system. You could be fined, risk prosecution from the HSE or have your kitchen closed.
The interlock device monitors the airflow in your kitchen. If the airflow is unsafe or there is a complete kitchen extraction fan failure, the interlock will cut off the gas to the appliance.
At TWO Services, our fully qualified engineers are accredited under CHAS and SafeContractor schemes. They’re highly qualified to ComCat 1, 2, 3 and 5, and Gas Safe registered.
Are your electrical appliances safe?
PAT testing – Testing your electrical equipment isn’t simply about whether or not it works when it’s plugged in. A full PAT test includes both a visual inspection and a more comprehensive check using specialist PAT testing equipment. This includes earth continuity, lead polarity, and insulation resistance checks.
Once the checks are complete, a sticker should be added to the appliance stating ‘passed’ or ‘failed’. PAT testing isn’t a legal requirement, but UK legislation states that businesses must maintain electrical equipment in a safe condition. And you have a legal responsibility to ensure the safety of employees and the public.
Has your ductwork been checked?
When was the last time your kitchen extractor fan and ductwork were cleaned? In the last six months? Did you know that grease and oil from cooking can build up fast, and if left uncleaned, they pose a serious fire risk? Fires within ductwork can be very difficult to access and they can spread quickly, putting the whole building and its occupants in danger.
In fact, a spokesman for the Fire Authority has stated “uncleaned grease in extract ventilation systems present probably the greatest potential fire risk in buildings with catering facilities”.
At TWO Services, we don’t just clean canopies and filters. We carry out a thorough ventilation and internal ductwork clean to BESA standards. Unlike many providers, we can access those hard-to-reach parts of the internal ductwork that can sometimes be ignored.
Don’t gamble and leave it to chance, make ductwork checks part of your planned kitchen cleaning and maintenance.
Is your kitchen clean and hygienic?
For some people, food poisoning can be life threatening. So, following food safety standards in the kitchen is essential. If people contract food poisoning after eating food from your kitchen, you may have to close your kitchen and it can cause irreparable reputational damage too.
Staff training – Do all of your staff understand why there are separate chopping boards for the preparation of meat, fish and vegetables? Have they been trained in food safety and avoiding allergen cross contamination?
Fridge maintenance – Are your fridges and freezers included in your planned kitchen maintenance? If not, then they should be. Maintenance can check that fridges and freezers are running to the right temperature, for example. As well as maintenance, you can also ensure that fridges and freezers are well organised. This makes it easier to see which food is past the best before date and should be removed. Always make sure that spills are cleaned as they happen to prevent contamination and damage to the equipment.
Deep cleaning – You clean your kitchen every day, so why is deep cleaning so important? Deep cleaning will include those inaccessible parts of your kitchen. At TWO Services, we clean and degrease every inch of our customers ovens, refrigeration, storage, racking, equipment, counter tops, ceilings, walls and floors.
How can I show that my kitchen is compliant and safe?
If you’ve followed all of the UK legislation and said yes to all of the above, how can you show it? You must make sure you have the certificates to prove it. At TWO Services, we always provide a certificate after every deep clean, planned maintenance visit, ductwork clean, PAT test, gas interlock check and gas safety check.
Working with TWO Services
Very few other UK companies can give you the simplicity and convenience of one expert team who can take care of maintenance and ductwork, as well as cleaning. We offer bespoke cleaning and maintenance regimes where we tailor our approach to suit your finances and your schedule.
We work to the highest standards using an integrated management system. We’re accredited to BS ISO 9001, ISO 14001: 2015 (environmental) and ISO 45001: 2018 (health and safety). And all our work is carried out in accordance with the European Regulations, the Food Safety & Hygiene (England) Regulations (in all cases, the latest issue applies) and COSHH. We provide certificates of hygiene after each clean.
If you would like more advice or information, call us on 0800 22 44 33 or visit www.two-services.com.
And for new customers, book your first kitchen deep clean with us and get your second half price. Just use the code ‘H&C’ when you call or use it in the form below and we will be in touch.
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