Archive

Holiday Safety: Tip No. 10

Dec. 14, 2000

Tips for safe cooking during the holidays or at any time of the year.

Whether you''re heading over the river and through the woods to grandma''s house this year, or hosting friends and family at your house, Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) remind you that holiday festivities can pose certain safety risks.

According to NFPA, cooking has been the leading cause of home fires since 1990.

UL and the NFPA offer these fire safety tips to follow while cooking during the holidays or at any time of the year:

Turn off and unplug all appliances when not in use. Periodically check on food being cooked in an oven, microwave or on the stove.
Use caution when using electrical appliances. Never plug more than one high wattage appliance into a single outlet. Never stand in or near water when using electrical appliances.
Keep young children at least 3 feet away from kitchen appliances when cooking.
Dress appropriately for cooking. Wear short or tight-fitting sleeves and use caution when working near heat sources.
Have plenty of fire-resistant potholders and oven mitts ready for use while cooking.
Turn handles inward so pots and pans won''t be pulled or knocked off the stove.
Save operating instructions for rarely used appliances and reread them before each use.

by Virginia Sutcliffe

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeek, EHS Today, Material Handling & Logistics, Logistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor: Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.