Safety in the kitchen

Press, 18 February 1983, Page 11

Safety in the kitchen

It is not generally recognised that your kitchen is the most dangerous room in the house — falls, burns and cuts during meal preparation and serving are probably the most frequent home accidents.

Given good design, adequate storage, particularly of little-use, appliances, and efficient use the kitchen can reduce this toll. Safety, of course, must always be considered in the design of a new kitchen and, with a little thought, useful improvement can be made in an existing kitchen. Straining, reaching and bending, which are all factors in kitchen accidents, can

be reduced with efficient storage of food and equipment. Possibly, this storage factor is one of the biggest single problem areas, and a number of aspects should be considered. As far as possible, articles

should be stored close to where they are used, and arranged in order of use. Frequently-used food and equipment should be located so that it can be easily accessible from the shelf or drawer without reaching or bending. Especially when there are elderly people living in the house,’ high storage should be avoided as looking up and reaching can cause them gid-

diness, with the possibility oi falls.’ If high storage cannot be avoided, a sturdy set of steps is essential to minimise the risk of reaching and straining. It also is important that

heavy articles should be stored on easily-accessible shelves to minimise the risk of back injury. Sliding shelves in some cupboards allow objects to be brought forward, thus avoiding the need to reach.