Tayside Fire & Rescue
Tayside Fire & Rescue

BBQ SAFETY

Following this guide will ensure you and your family keep safe and enjoy your BBQ.

- Shelter your BBQ from the wind

- Place your BBQ on level ground away from the garage, wooden fences, sheds, hedges and long grass

- Have water to hand

- Use firelighters or fluids fit for purpose

- Your BBQ should never be left unattended

- When you are tending to a BBQ never wear loose clothing and tie long hair back

- Keep children away from the BBQ

- Alcohol and cooking don't mix

- Allow embers to cool completely before disposal

Gas Barbecues
Each year around 30 people are injured as a result of gas grill fires and explosions.  Many of these occur when you first use a grill that hasn't been used for a while.  They can also occur just after refilling and reattaching the grill's gas container.

Follow these safety checks to reduce the risks:

- Clear any blockages  in the grill hoses with a pipe cleaner

- Check grill hoses for cracking, brittleness, holes and leaks

- Check and replace scratched or nicked connectors that may leak gas

- If you find a leak, immediately turn off the gas and don't use the grill until the leak is fixed

- Keep lit cigarettes, matches and open flames away from grill

- Put the grill at least 10 feet away from any building

- Transport and store containers in an upright position

- To repair the tank valve see an LP gas dealer or a qualified appliance repairer

- Always follow the grill manufacturer's instructions

- Move gas hoses as far away as possible from hot surfaces.  If you can't move the hoses, install a heat shield to protect them

- Never store a spare gas container indoors or near the grill as heat will cause the gas pressure to increase

- Never store or use flammable liquids near the grill