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Fire & Water - Cleanup & Restoration

Archived Why SERVPRO Blog Posts

Kitchen Hazards and What to Do

12/7/2022 (Permalink)

Kitchen Hazards and What to Do

Cooking is a wonderful pastime and can be a very relaxing way to destress. However, this is also when many kitchen accidents happen. There are so many hazards in the kitchen that you may not even realize they're there, but they can lead to serious injuries or even death if not addressed properly. Here are some major kitchen hazards that you need to know about:

Fire

When a fire breaks out in your kitchen, it's important to know what to do. If you're able to evacuate the building immediately, that's the safest course of action. If you can't leave, however, stay low and get under the table or other furniture closest to you. If there is a fire extinguisher nearby (and ideally one for each person who will be working in the kitchen), use it on small fires—but never on grease fires! Never use water on grease fires because this will only spread them further and make them harder to control—instead spray with baking soda or salt instead.

Gas Leaks

A gas leak can be deadly. If you smell gas coming from your oven, stove or other appliance, immediately leave the kitchen and call the fire department. The best way to check for a leak is to use a chemical-sensing device, like one of those that come with a new home's natural-gas hookup. If you don't have one of these, soap bubbles will suffice. Place a few drops on all parts of the appliance where gas might escape (don't forget about your dishwasher!), then light them with a match or lighter—if they don't pop right away and burn off without leaving residue, there's probably no leak here!

Knife Cuts

Knife cuts are one of the most common injuries to occur in the kitchen, so it's important to know how to avoid them and what to do if you get one.

Here are some ways to prevent knife cuts:

  • Always keep knives sharp and clean
  • Keep handles dry, clean, and free of grease or food particles
  • Wash hands before handling your knives (and don't lick your fingers while chopping!)

Burns

You may think you know what a burn is, but did you know that there are several different types of burns? Burns can occur from hot liquids, steam and grease, open flames (like the stovetop or oven), hot pans, and sharp or pointed objects. Electrical burns are also common in the kitchen due to improper grounding or circuit breakers not tripping properly.

Burns are painful—and they can be serious if your wound isn’t treated properly. If someone gets a burn on their face and hands, it can be difficult to do everyday tasks because they need to use these areas so much. That’s why it’s important to seek medical attention after sustaining any type of burn injury!

Broken Glass and Sharp Objects

Broken glass and sharp objects are major kitchen hazards, as they can cause serious cuts. Broken glass is often found in the garbage disposal, so be sure to clean out your garbage disposal regularly with a plumber's snake (a long metal tool that can remove food particles from pipes).

Rat and Insects Infestations

Rat and insect infestations can easily happen in your kitchen, and you will want to prevent them as much as possible. First, ensure that food is stored in tightly sealed containers. This will prevent mice and other small rodents from getting into them. Second, keep garbage in a tightly sealed container as well. Rats and mice love stinky stuff like old food scraps or leftover pizza crusts—and they'll eat just about anything if they're hungry enough! If you notice that a rat has gotten into your place (such as when it runs across the floor), it's important to clean up any spills immediately so that the rat has no reason to stick around after eating its meal of leftovers. Finally, use traps to catch any rats or mice that manage to get inside your house despite all these precautions! With proper care for keeping pests away from your home—as well as for preventing an infestation when one does occur—you'll be able to enjoy being safe from harm while still enjoying delicious food prepared by yourself instead of someone else at home :)

When it comes to cooking, there are many hazards that can be avoided. And while you might not think about kitchen safety too often, it’s important to consider these risks and take steps to avoid them. In this post we have covered some of the most common hazards in kitchens—including fire, gas leaks, spoiled food, knife cuts and burns—and shared some tips on how to avoid them. We hope that by reading through these 11 kitchen hazards you will be able to make your next meal safe for everyone involved!

If you have a serious disaster in your Cibolo, TX home, give SERVPRO of Schertz Central, Cibolo, Seguin, Gonzales a call! 

3 Ways That Pretesting Keeps Insurance Claims Low

9/1/2022 (Permalink)

Preparation is an important step in any procedure and a pretest is a form of that.

Pretesting Reduces Insurance Claims in Three Ways

Pretesting is a helpful procedure for your insurance career. Once the damage is reported by a client in Cibolo, TX, a team of restoration specialists will work with you to inspect the affected area before acting. They will perform a pretest that not only prepares the commercial building for the process but also keeps the insurance claim low.

1. Improves the Remediation Process
Preparation is an important step in any procedure and a pretest is a form of that. Checking the damage beforehand allows the technicians to see the type of damage, its effect on various objects and how it extends throughout the area. This information helps them plan better repairs since they can select the right equipment and tactics for the job. They will avoid making mistakes on the field that can delay remediation and lead to bigger expenses than necessary.

2. Identifies Repairable Items
Any insurance agent knows that one of the major goals is to repair or restore any damaged objects whenever possible since it is more expensive to replace them. Pretesting allows the damage professionals to enter the building and identify any object that can be salvaged. You can collaborate with them to repair as much of the commercial building as you can before the clean-up and replacements can begin, keeping the procedure affordable.

3. Detects Untouched Locations
Damage does not always affect all locations equally, as some parts are less impacted than others or even left untouched by an incident. A pretest helps you find these areas and consider them during the decision-making process. While you can control costs by avoiding repairs in these areas, remember that some fire and water damage can spread to them if left alone. Invest in some protection for these spots to reduce the claim costs.
Insurance agents like yourself need to balance a commercial property's effective remediation with affordable expenses. Pretesting conducted by restoration experts can assist you in accomplishing this goal.