Kitchen Equipment Failure: 7 Safer First Steps

When a fridge, range or oven fails mid-shift, rushing the fix can make things worse.

Stop unsafe operation

If safe to do so, stop use and keep staff clear of heat, electricity, leaks or moving parts.

Alert the responsible lead

Tell the chef, manager and authorised maintenance team what failed and where.

Do not attempt untrained repairs

Never bypass guards, locks or electrical protections to keep service running.

Protect food safety

Assess temperatures, holding time and potentially affected food using approved procedures.

Review the menu safely

Have the chef decide which dishes can be produced with working equipment.

Tell service teams early

Give front-of-house accurate information about unavailable items or likely delays.

Document and verify restart

Log the fault and resume using equipment only after the required safety clearance.

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