Commercial Kitchen Safety Checklist

Before the food gets cooked and a restaurant opens, thinking about safety in a commercial kitchen should be a top priority. Productivity can only flow if everyone can work safely in the kitchen, so make sure you have everything you need to ensure everyone’s well-being. Below you can find our commercial kitchen safety checklist to help you figure out what is missing in your safety plans. We have the gear and best practices listed so you can rest easy knowing your commercial kitchen is safe from danger.

Commercial Kitchen Safety Checklist

Safety Gear

Safety gear is the foundation for protecting food service workers and providing a safer environment. Make sure you have the important gear on hand including:

• No-slip shoes


• Heat-resistant gloves


• Cut resistant gloves


• Disposable gloves


• Oven mitts


• Aprons


• Hair nets/protective covers


• Cleaning & sanitizing tools


• Food thermometers


• First aid supplies


• Cutting boards

Best Practices

Safety rules for the kitchen can be a great way to ensure that everyone can participate in making the kitchen a good working environment. Some best practices to remind everyone could be:

• Never run in a commercial kitchen – Whether it’s a serious emergency or just the bustle of the dinner rush, it’s never a good idea to run in commercial kitchens, so make sure staff remember to walk with purpose and at a regular pace.  


• Avoid cross contamination – Cross contamination is a serious hazard and should be a top priority to your commercial kitchen safety checklist. To avoid this dangerous scenario, check out our tips on preventing cross contamination. 


• Use appliances with caution – Large gas appliances like ovens and fryers can pose serious safety risks if used without care or knowledge. Being conscious of the dangers of equipment while operating and utilizing the proper safety gear are steps to safer kitchen practices. If you need some deep fryer safety tips, read our in-depth guide. 


• Certify all kitchen staff – Food safety certification is a great way to ensure that all staff have the knowledge to work safely and gives an official seal of approval. There are a variety of food safety certifications out there, so make sure you check the town, county and state requirements. Learn more about certifications with our helpful how to get food safety certified guide.


• Maintain equipment – We say it once, we’ll say it again: routine maintenance is a sure-fire way to ensure that commercial kitchen equipment remains safe to operate. Whether it is lubricating a gasket or replacing a filter, these small steps can make large leaps in keeping appliances safer.


• Food safety & storage – Sometimes the easiest way to keep a kitchen safe is the simplest. Following rules like the FIFO method, labeling everything and checking food temperatures are simple tasks that can make a huge impact on the well-being of everyone involved. For more best practices in commercial kitchens, make sure to check out our guide on maintaining food safety in commercial kitchens.


• Cleaning techniques – Safety rules for a kitchen need to include proper cleaning and sanitization techniques. Improperly cleaned tools or unsanitized surfaces pose a serious health risk, so make sure staff are constantly vigilant on following the correct steps on cleaning or sanitizing. Adding any laminated step-by-step visuals near cleaning stations can be a helpful reminder while commercial kitchen staff work. 

Safety Drills

• Fire drills – Since fire is a key component in commercial kitchens, fire drills are an essential. Reviewing fire procedures and having mock drills with staff can help ensure everyone knows what to do in an emergency. Posting a laminated print out of exit pathways and letting staff know where these are located can help people get familiar before a fire strikes. OSHA has a large array of fire safety and commercial kitchen practices to help you keep your kitchen safe.


• Cooking fire – A cooking fire is different from a regular fire. Grease fires require a different safety procedure and it should be reviewed with those who are unfamiliar with grease fires. Throwing water on these can cause a larger fire, so make sure to have a fire blanket, lid or extinguisher nearby. Plus, make sure staff know how to operate a fire extinguisher, so everyone is equipped to handle this emergency.


• Natural disaster drills – A commercial kitchen that is in a natural disaster zone needs to have a prepared disaster plan in place. Label any essential information in a document and make sure it is laminated and easily accessible to staff. Also, any safety areas or designated meet up areas should be labeled with signs so they can be spotted easily in an emergency. Go over these documents and areas with any new staff and review these yearly with regular staff to ensure everyone is prepared and aware. 


• Medical emergencies – While this drill might not seem as urgent as natural disasters, it can be just as important to have staff drilled on what to do during medical emergencies. Notify staff where emergency phones can be located if personal phones are not on hand, so calling 911 can be quick and efficient. Let staff know how to clear the area and a designated person to flag down medical professionals and bring them to the emergency. Medical emergencies can come in all shapes and sizes, so having a plan in place for many scenarios is essential. 


• Allergy safety plan – Allergies are no stranger to kitchens, and accommodating them can require some extra precautionary measures. Try having an extra station that is ‘allergen-free’ and keep it separate from the common allergies like nuts, gluten and dairy. Make sure the kitchen staff has good communication with serving staff when orders with an allergy are being placed and have multiple ways of flagging an allergy order. Remind staff of the seriousness of allergies and go through the steps everyone must take to ensure that dishes can be made safely. 

Health & Hygiene Habits

The health of everyone involved in commercial kitchens can really impact safety. Keep everyone healthy by following some of these essential tips:

• Sick leave – Keep the germs out of the kitchen! Having people stay home sick might leave you short staffed for the evening, but in the long term it helps prevent the sickness from spreading and taking out more staff in the process. Face masks are also a great way to keep the spread of germs to a minimum, especially during cold & flu season.


• Handwashing – Nothing stops the spread of germs like handwashing! Handwashing is a well-known step in keeping commercial kitchens clean and safe. It also helps to prevent cross-contamination when kitchen staff are working with a variety of foods. Place reminders near handwashing stations and provide visual guides on the proper way to wash hands. 


• First aid certified – A great way to ensure the safety of a commercial kitchen is having some staff certified in first aid. Whether it is a manager or busboy, offering first aid training can be a great way to provide a small amount of medical aid during emergencies. 


• Review common injuries – Know what injuries are most common in a commercial kitchen. Burns are a common injury in commercial kitchens, so make sure everyone is aware of what to do and how to prevent them. Other common injuries might be hot oil splashes, eye contamination, sprains and more.