Choosing for Kitchens
Employers or specifiers have a responsibility to everyone using their kitchen or industrial catering area.
The Facts: Slips And Trips
Around 11,000 employees in the UK alone are injured each year because of slips and trips. As a result, it is estimated that £512m is lost in production and incurred costs. The alarming statistic is, however, that 83% of businesses are exposed to slip and trip risks.
In the EU, most workplace accidents can be attributed to slips and trips, and the European Commission has now targeted a 25% reduction in these accident rates by 2012.
“Slips, trips and falls are the most common cause of accidents in the hotel and catering sector, especially in kitchens. They are mainly caused by surfaces made slippery by water, food waste or oil.”
European Agency for Safety and Health at Work All Altro safety flooring exceeds the recommended minimum UK Health and Safety Executive (HSE) Slip Resistant Value (SRV) of 36.
The Facts: Food Poisoning
The World Health Authority states that up to 30% of industrial nations’ populations suffer food poisoning every year, and research shows kitchens to be the chief culprit, while contamination of surfaces is in the top five causes of food poisoning.
The EU guidelines that kitchens or industrial catering areas must adhere to include:
- every food business operation must ensure that food safety is never compromised. The layout, design and construction of food premises must prevent the accumulation of dirt and the shedding of particles. Also, the formation of condensation or undesirable mould on surfaces must be prevented
- floors, walls, ceilings, windows and doors must have impervious, non-absorbent and washable surfaces. All surfaces should be maintained in a sound condition, and therefore be easy to clean and disinfect. This will require all surfaces to be smooth, washable, corrosion resistant and made from non-toxic materials
- all floors, walkways and stairs must be safe for employees or clients
- one way of being sure that the protection is there, and the confidence in responsibilities is being taken care of, is to fit Altro flooring and wall cladding
- Altro safety flooring is HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) compliant, providing peace of mind with the risk assessments of environmental safety
The problem with ceramics
Today’s hygiene regulations demand safe and hygienic environments for both employees and guests to catering businesses. Tiles can look great but there is more to hygiene than meets the eye. Ceramics can get damaged allowing contaminated water to penetrate.
This not only leaves unsightly stains but creates a breeding ground for bacterial growth. Grout lines are particularly vulnerable and even Epoxy grout is susceptible. When up to 20% of a tiled surface is grout, there are real risks to health and safety.
With Altro, these issues are well taken care of.
As a decorative and practical alternative to ceramic tiles, Altro floor and wall coverings are durable, impervious and impact resistant, with smooth and easy to clean surfaces. There’s no grout involved with Altro products and the finish is seamless, so dirt and bacteria have nowhere to hide. From extensive testing in accordance with the requirements of BS 3900: Part 6, it was concluded that Altro safety flooring is completely resistant to fungal growth. It is also impact and chemical resistant, and therefore will never wear out or crack like ceramics.
As a result, businesses can enjoy reduced maintenance and lower long-term costs, with a significantly reduced risk of contamination or closure. All this makes it perfect for use in any catering area.