Summer is the perfect time for cooking outdoor meals with friends, but using a grill can cause accidents if you aren’t careful. Let’s take a look at some grill safety tips so that you can enjoy the summer incident-free.
Placement for Grill Safety
Where you place your grill is an important consideration when it comes to safety. You should:
- Place the grill on a flat surface.
- Keep it away from sheds and outbuildings.
- Stay clear of trees, shrubs, and outdoor decorations.
- Move the grill out from under any roof or covered area before lighting it.
Fire Safety
Make sure you always have a way to put out a fire within reach of your grill. Ideally, this would be a fire extinguisher, but a bucket of sand will also work.
Maintenance
Before each use, confirm that your grill is in good working order. A grill that isn’t functioning properly could leak gas or be a fire hazard. Check gas hoses for leaks with this simple trick: spray a mild soap and water solution onto the hose and then open the gas valve. If you notice any bubbles forming, there is a gas leak. Do not use the grill until you’ve repaired or replaced it.
It’s also important to keep a gas or charcoal grill clean. A buildup of food particles and grease can ignite and start a flare-up. Clean the grill after each use once it has cooled down completely.
Gas Tanks
Store your gas tanks outside where they are protected from direct sunlight and frost. Limit the number of canisters you keep on hand at once so you don’t have excess fuel stored on your property.
Grill Safety Tips While Cooking
It’s challenging to pay attention to everything going on around you when you are tending the grill, so have some ground rules in place:
- Keep children and pets away from the grill. Place the grill in a secure part of your yard or deck that is closed off to kids and pets.
- Keep outdoor games in a different section of the yard from the grill.
- Never leave a lit grill unattended. Make sure there’s always someone to watch the grill if you need to take a break.
Turning Off the Grill
When it is time to put your grill away, turn off the gas supply first followed by the grill control to ensure that any residual gas is released. Double-check that everything is completely turned off before walking away from the grill.
Using a grill is generally a safe activity, but accidents do happen every year. Follow these grill safety tips to keep your family and property accident-free.
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