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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