Barbeque Safety Advice

Barbeque season is upon us! With the temperature finally warming up many of us will be enjoying ‘al fresco’ dining over the next few months. Barbeques are a great way to enjoy the summer but they can provide fire and safety risks. Most accidents that occur are related to burns, often as a result of using an accelerant such as petrol to light the fuel, or cuts from sharp edges on barbeques.
To ensure you have a safe and enjoyable time follow our barbeque safety advice.

General Safety Advice

  • Never use a barbecue in an enclosed space
  • Make sure barbecues are placed on level ground and stable so they cannot tip over
  • Keep barbecues away from your home, sheds, fences, garden furniture, trees, shrubs and tents
  • Ensure the barbeque has plenty of space to manoeuvre around it
  • Keep children, pets and garden games well away from the cooking area
  • Never leave the barbecue unattended
  • Follow the safety instructions provided with disposable barbecues
  • Ensure your barbeque is in good working condition 
  • Ensure the barbeque is cool before attempting to move it – metal parts can become hot
  • If possible keep a bucket of water or sand nearby for emergencies

Charcoal barbeques

  • Never use accelerants such as petrol or methylated spirits on a barbeque. Only use approved fire lighters or barbeque fuel.
  • Never put hot ashes or disposable barbeques straight into a dustbin or wheelie bin

Tips for gas barbeques

  • Change gas cylinders outdoors or in a well ventilated area
  • Ensure the tap is turned off before changing the gas cylinder
  • If you suspect a leak to the cylinder or pipe work, brush soapy water around the joints and watch for bubbles - tighten to fix but do not overtighten
  • After cooking, turn off the gas cylinder before turning off at the controls to ensure any residual gas in the pipe work is used up

Barbequing in a public space

  • If having a barbecue in a public place, ensure that you are allowed to do so, and never leave the barbecue unattended
  • Take specific care in hot and dry weather to ensure you create no risk of starting a forest or grass fire
  • Take care when getting rid of a disposable barbecue or barbecue coals - ensure they have cooled down before disposing of them in a bin.

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