• Overview
• Safety at Home
  • Overview
  • How to wire a plug correctly
  • Using appliances safely
  • Kitchen safety
  • Bedroom safety
  • Bathroom safety
  • Garage, Workshop and Garden safety
  • The Electrical installation - Fuses and MCBs
  • What to do if there is a Power Cut
• Safety at Work
• Safety on the Farm
• Equipment Protection
• Environment
• Storm Damage
• Safety Publications
• Safety for Young People/Schools

Kitchen Safety

Special care should be taken when using appliances in the kitchen, where the combination of electricity, water, trailing flexes and hot surfaces makes it potentially more dangerous.

The following DOs and DON'Ts will help to reduce the risk of accidents:

General

• DO NOT have flexes trailing across either the cooker hob or sink.
• DO NOT handle plugs or switches when your hands are wet; dry them first.
• DO NOT wrap flexes around kettles, irons or toasters while they are still hot; the flexes may be damaged.
• DO NOT clean or wash any appliance while it is stilled plugged in.
• DO NOT try to release jammed toast from a toaster while it is still plugged in.
• DO NOT line the grill pan with cooking foil; the foil could make contact with live terminals.
• DO unplug an electric kettle before filling it and make sure that the element is covered by the water.
• DO unplug a steam iron before filling it.

Fire Risk when Deep Frying in Oil

Carelessness when using an old style 'chip pan' for deep-fat frying is the cause of many kitchen fires. Hot oil can ignite suddenly and the fire can quickly get out of control.

Most fire authorities recommend that householders get rid of these chip pans and switch to a safer method of deep-fat frying, such as an electric deep fat fryer.

Electric deep-fat fryer

The main safety features of an electric deep-fat fryer are the thermostatic control that prevents the oil from overheating and the absence of a source of ignition.

To ensure that the thermostat continues to operate properly, you should remember to keep the air filter clean.