How to use this kitchen

inspection checklist
Use
this checklist to
inspect food
preparation areas, associated storage areas
and seating areas.
Inspections should be carried out at least
once per year. Inspections should be done
when the bar is occupied by staff and
students, to get a true picture of conditions
and practices.
Consider getting a team together to help
you. The team should be limited to four
people.
Carry out inspections in manageable
chunks.
Divide your area into separate
sections. Use one checklist per section and
record details of faults or weaknesses.
When you have carried out an inspection
and recorded any faults or weaknesses
found, report to your Head of School or
Office, together with your comments and
recommendations for action.
Keep a copy of each completed inspection
checklist and record action taken to correct
the faults you have reported.

safetyunit@gre.ac.uk
October 2010

Page 1 of 8

KITCHEN INSPECTION CHECKLIST

Use this checklist to inspect food preparation areas, associated storage areas and seating areas.
The answer to all these questions should be yes. If no you should note the location and brief details and investigate the
problem further to identify actions.
Areas
inspected
Inspected
by

Date
HAZARD

YES/N
O

COMMENTS
(location & brief details)

Cleanliness
Are work surfaces, shelves & floor kept clean
& tidy?
Are walls & ceilings clean & in good condition?
(not cracked, chipped or peeling)
Are all surfaces easy to wash down?
Are equipment, crockery & utensils cleaned
thoroughly after use?
Are sinks and drains working properly?
(not blocked or smelling)
Is deep cleaning carried out regularly?
(note when last carried out)
Is the goods delivery area kept clean & free
from clutter?
Disposal of Waste
Are waste food & other waste removed from
the kitchen at least once per day?
Is waste cooking oil & fat disposed of
correctly?
(via a specialist collection agent)
Is waste stored in a bin or similar container
2

ACTION TAKEN or
RECOMMENDED
(with completion dates)

HAZARD

YES/N
O

COMMENTS
(location & brief details)

with a tightly fitting lid?

Are broken glass & other sharp waste put in a
puncture-proof container or wrapping before
disposal into a bin?
Are refuse bins kept at a distance from the
kitchen?
Are refuse bins emptied regularly?
(according to waste disposal contract)
Are trolleys available for moving heavy or
large loads? (manual handling assessments
needed for handling heavy or awkward loads)
Food Hygiene
Are staff trained in basic food hygiene
practices?
(check training records)
Are food deliveries attended to immediately?
Is cooked & raw food stored & prepared
separately?
Are refrigerators & freezers clean & working
properly?
(freezer temperature -18oC or less)
Are other cool storage areas below 10oC?
Is the temperature of food display cabinets
checked regularly?
Pest Control
Are kitchen, servery & storage areas regularly
checked for pest (mice, insects, etc)
infestations?
(note date of last check & name of pest
control company)
Are pest control visits made out of hours e.g.
at night?
(note arrangements for this)
Are fly screens in place at all opening windows
& vents?
Are electric fly killer units in working order &
maintained regularly?
3

ACTION TAKEN or
RECOMMENDED
(with completion dates)

HAZARD

YES/N
O

COMMENTS
(location & brief details)

Toilets and washing facilities

Are there enough toilets for men and women?
(not for customers use)
Are toilets and washbasins clean and in
working order?
Are hot and cold (or warm) running water,
soap and towels (or other cleaning/hand
drying facilities) provided in the toilets?
Are lockers provided for staff clothing & bags?
Is there a rest area away from the kitchen,
where staff can sit, eat & drink? (may be part
of dining area
Ventilation
Are cooking smells & steam removed from the
room?
Is there a supply of fresh air with no draughts?
Are mechanical extract ventilation systems
checked & maintained annually?
Lighting
Is the lighting bright enough, especially over
work surfaces & cookers?
Are steps, stairs & storerooms properly lit?
Are light shades & diffusers clean & in good
condition?
Slips, Trips and Manual Handling
Is the floor in a good condition?
(no cracks, bumps or worn bits)
Is the floor free from obstructions?
(such as boxes or rubbish)
Are floor surfaces slip resistant?
Are spills cleared up immediately?
Are caution wet floor signs used when
floors have been washed?
Are staff wearing suitable closed-in, slip
resistant shoes?
Are steps & stools provided where needed?
Are steps & stools in safe condition?
4

ACTION TAKEN or
RECOMMENDED
(with completion dates)

HAZARD

YES/N
O

COMMENTS
(location & brief details)

(not broken or wobbly)

Have manual handling risks been assessed &
controlled? (check risk assessment records)
Fire Precautions
Are fire exits & escape routes free of
obstructions?
Are fire doors clearly marked & kept closed?
Do fire door closing mechanisms operate
properly?
Are vision panels in doors unobstructed?
Are fire extinguishers provided and tested
annually?(check last test date on label)
Are fire blankets provided & checked
annually?
(check last test date on label)
Have staff been trained in use of fire blankets?
(check training records)
Are up to date fire action notices displayed
where staff can read them?
(what to do in event of fire & fire assembly
points)
Can fire alarms be heard in all areas, including
storerooms and toilets?
Are fire drills carried out at least once per
term?
(check fire evacuation records)
Are no smoking rules followed?
(look for cigarette butts)
Machinery and Equipment
Are staff trained to use & clean food
preparation equipment safely? (check training
records)
Is machinery and equipment regularly
inspected & maintained? (fixed equipment
every six months)
5

ACTION TAKEN or
RECOMMENDED
(with completion dates)

HAZARD

YES/N
O

COMMENTS
(location & brief details)

Is there a procedure for reporting faulty

machinery or equipment & taking it out of use
until mended?
(note details of this procedure)
Is dangerous machinery operated with guards
in place?
(e.g. mincers, bacon slicers, potato chippers,
food mixers)
Are these dangerous machines only operated
by trained staff over the age of 18?
Electrical Safety
Are electrical sockets and equipment placed
away from sinks and hotplates?
Is electrical equipment regularly inspected
and tested?
portable electrical equipment tested every 3
years check test labels
Does all electrical equipment pass visual
inspection?
Visual inspection of equipment
Switch off and disconnect (unplug) equipment before inspecting. Then look for danger signs
is the cable covering intact?
damage to the plug - is the casing intact
and pins straight?
is the lead intact without any joins?.
the outer covering of the cable is gripped
where it enters the plug or equipment
- see if the coloured insulation or copper of
the internal wires are completely covered.
the plug, equipment or socket is free from
indications of overheating (eg brown burn
marks)
label any faulty equipment with do not use
signs & take out of use until checked by an
electrician. Encourage other staff to report

ACTION TAKEN or
RECOMMENDED
(with completion dates)

HAZARD

YES/N
O

COMMENTS
(location & brief details)

any faults or damaged equipment

Gas Safety
Are gas appliances regularly checked &
serviced by qualified fitters? (every six
months)
Are staff trained to use gas appliances safely?
(check training records)
Do staff know what to do in a event of a gas
leak?
(turn off gas supply, evacuate the area, notify
Estates department immediately)
Chemicals
Are all chemicals clearly labelled?
(e.g. cleaning materials, disinfectants,
detergents, pest killers)
Have staff been trained to use these
chemicals safely?
(check training records)
Do staff know what to do in an emergency?
Protective Clothing
Are rubber or plastic gloves provided to
protect against skin damage from hot water,
detergents, disinfectants & other chemicals?
Are cotton inner-gloves available for handling
broken glass & other sharp waste material?
Are padded gloves available for handling
broken glass and other sharp waste material?
Is eye protection (goggles or visors) provided
where there is a danger of eye damage from
splashes or machinery?
Are heatproof gloves or gauntlets provided for
taking dishes in & out of hot ovens?
Is all protective clothing replaced as soon as it
is worn out or damaged?
Are clean overalls provided at least twice per
week?
Are clean hair coverings (caps, snoods etc.)
7

ACTION TAKEN or
RECOMMENDED
(with completion dates)

HAZARD

YES/N
O

COMMENTS
(location & brief details)

provided when needed?

First Aid
Are up to date posters displayed with names &
locations of trained first aiders?
Are first aid boxes clearly marked and fully
stocked?
Accidents and Illness
Are accidents reported in an accident book &
on the University Accident Report Form?
(check accident book and records)
Are near misses & illnesses caused by work
also recorded? (check accident book and
records)
Do staff report symptoms which may cause
food poisoning? (diarrhoea, vomiting, skins
rashes, boils, fever, discharges from ear or
nose)
Is there a procedure for referring employees
with these symptoms, for a medical opinion on
their fitness for work?
Other Hazards/Notes

ACTION TAKEN or
RECOMMENDED
(with completion dates)