Barbeques
Barbecues can get out of control if you are not careful. Follow these simple guidelines to enjoy a safe barbecue.
- Ensure that your barbecue is placed on level ground where it will not tip over, and is sited away from sheds, fences, overhanging foliage and the house.
- Avoid positioning the barbecue where people have to pass closely by it.
- Use only sufficient fuel to cover the base to a depth of about 5 cm (2 inches) and store the charcoal sack well away from the fire.
- Use a approved proprietary fire lighter or starter fuel, Not Petrol, and use the minimum necessary to start the fire. Lighting fuels must only be applied before lighting.
- Remember to light your charcoal an hour before you commence cooking.
- Don’t be over generous with the charcoal.
- Keep pets, children and garden games well away from the cooking area and never leave the barbecues unattended.
- Take care when cooking fatty foods. Lots of fat spilling onto the coals may cause them to flare up. If they do flare up keep a water spray handy and douse the flames gently.
- If you are the chef, stay off the booze till the cooking’s finished.
- Never pour petrol on any barbecue to try to re-ignite it, start the process again, properly.
- When the cooking’s finished, extinguish the burning coals. Leave them to cool for 1-3 hours to ensure they are totally cool.
- Empty the spent ash onto bare garden soil - never put it in the dustbin.
- Most of the items on the list are common sense; the biggest danger is the use of flammable liquids to light the barbecue. If these flammable liquids are used to re-ignite a failing barbecue the reaction can be violent and highly dangerous.
Gas Barbeques
- Make sure the barbecue controls and the cylinder valve are turned off before changing the cylinder. Change gas cylinders in the open air if possible, otherwise open doors and windows to provide good ventilation.
- If you suspect a leak to the gas cylinder connections or pipework, brush soapy water around all joints and watch for bubbles. If a leak joint is found, try to tighten but do not over tighten.
- Store gas cylinders outside, protect from frost and direct sunlight.
- Do not keep more spare cylinders that you need.
- When you have finished cooking with the bottled gas barbecue, turn off the gas cylinder before the barbecue controls, this ensures that any residual gas in the pipeline is used up.
- Never use petrol on a barbecue.