SUMMER 2023 Barbecues and other outdoor events are great, but put safety first and consider your neighbours FOR THE GRILL OF IT! Summers here and plenty of businesses will be looking to monetise the sunny days by staging outdoor activities and firing up the barbecue! If youre planning such an event, here are a few things to bear in mind. Food safety: If you dont have a cooking food outdoors process in your food safety management system, then include one. Deep clean your grill before use and risk assess how you are going to prepare, store and cook the food safely. Charred meat on the outside doesnt mean cooked on the inside! If you are expecting high customer demand in a short period of time, consider part-cooking the food in your ovens and finishing it off on the barbecue and have a probe available to check the food is cooked to 75C. Also ensure salads and desserts are not left out in the summer heat: the twohour rule may be too long in intense sun. Not only will food attract flies, but unseen microbes can grow and cause food poisoning. Further advice is available from the Food Standards Agency. Risk assess how you are going to prepare, store and cook the food safely. Charred meat on the outside doesnt mean cooked on the inside! Health and safety: Safe working is always important, but even more so if there are lots of excited children running around. Risk assess potential hazards for example, stability of equipment and ground surfaces. Site your barbecue well away from property and fences, and assess the potential for fire and burns from close contact or the fuel being used. If you are using up last years gas cylinder, check it over before switching it on and make sure you switch the tap off before changing cylinders (see boxout, BBQ fire safety). Dont use barbecues indoors in marquees or buildings as there is the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be fatal. Also check that your designated smoking area isnt compromised by the larger number of people outdoors. Licensing: As a restaurant, pub or club, you will have a licence but does it cover the outdoor area you intend to use? If complaints about noise are received by the local authority, you could be reviewed for not meeting this licensing condition. Your licence will almost certainly restrict outdoor use if you are close to residences and you will need to close doors and windows after 11pm. If you are running a one-off event and selling alcohol, you may need to apply to your local authority for a temporary events notice. Noise nuisance: The key hours for causing nuisance are 11pm-7am, but excessive noise can be a statutory nuisance under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 at any time of day, as the offence is linked to volume and frequency, as well as time. Assess the potential impact of your event on the local area and keep your neighbours on side by making contact with them (be aware that not everyone uses social media or reads local notices). A lot of your valuable time could be wasted if an Environmental Health or licensing officer has to turn up on your doorstep to agree an action plan to reduce noise levels! Credits: Helen Cameron, Environmental Health officer; Daniel Hodgkins, fire safety inspecting officer, West Midlands Fire Service; Image: Shutterstock / Tartila Barbecue safety advice n Make sure your barbecue is n Only use recognised n n n n in good working order Barbecue on a flat site, well away from sheds, fences, trees or shrubs Keep children, garden games and pets well away from the cooking area Never leave the barbecue unattended, and keep a bucket of water or sand nearby for emergencies Use only enough charcoal to cover the base, to a depth of about 50mm around the joints and firelighters or starter watch for bubbles fuel, and only on cold tighten to fix, but do coals use the minimum not overtighten n After cooking, turn off the necessary and never Gas BBQs n Change gas cylinders use petrol gas cylinder before turning n Ensure the barbecue is cool outdoors if possible, or in off at the controls, so that before moving it, and never a well-ventilated area, and any residual gas in the put hot ashes straight into make sure the tap is turned pipework is used up a dustbin or wheelie bin off before changing they could melt the plastic n If you suspect a leak and cause a fire to the cylinder n Dont use a barbecue or pipework, indoors, in a tent or in an brush soapy enclosed space there is water For further information, please contact your local Trading Standards Service For up-to-date news stories and information, follow us on a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, even when it is extinguished. Anonymous Hotline 0300 303 2636 Is your sector being undermined by unscrupulous traders operating outside the law? Report them via Trading Standards Anonymous Hotline or online and help level the playing field for honest businesses.