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The food truck industry has seen a surge in popularity.
Squeezing a functional kitchen into the confines of a vehicle can be
challenging, and with it comes fire safety hazards that one must consider to
keep employees and customers safe. Most food trucks use a gas or electricity power source to
cook and refrigerate appliances including propane gas fuel ovens, burners and
fryers, and portable electric generators to power appliances. Food truck
operators are responsible for compliance with local mobile food services
regulations, and to ensure the safety and health of their employees. The
following tips can help food truck operations stay safe and out of harm from
potential fires.
Propane Safety Tips
- Contact a qualified propane service retailer to connect tanks to appliances.
- Ensure you have sufficient ventilation.
- Know what propane smells like. Propane tank retailer offer scratch pads that can help employees know what it smells like in case of a leak.
- Do not try to fix a leak yourself. Call your supplier and do not use any appliance connected to a problematic cylinder until the problem is solved.
Portable Electric Generators Safety Tips
- The generator should not be connected directly to mobile kitchen equipment without a proper transfer switch installed and must be properly grounded.
- Never operate the generator inside the truck.
- Use carbon monoxide detectors to monitor levels inside the truck, as generators can produce high levels of the gas very quickly.
- Always have a fully charged, approved fire extinguisher located near the generator.
In addition, the International Fire Marshals Association (IFMA) recommends food truck safety training that includes how to use portable
fire extinguishers, shut off fuel sources, refuel safely and how to perform
leak detection. IFMA also recommends that:
- gas systems on mobile cooking vehicles comply with NFPA 58 in the U.S. and, in Canada, CSA Standards for handling propane;
- gas systems are inspected prior to each use by a trained worker;
- leak detection be performed every time a new connection or a change in cylinder is made to any gas system.