Industry news
Council probes curry house ovens
Posted Mon, 22 Feb
A council has launched a crackdown on curry houses following a clutch of tandoori oven-related injuries. Officials launched the investigation after employees at restaurants across Birmingham suffered burns when lighting the ovens.
A total of 27 curry houses and takeaways were inspected by officers from Birmingham City Council's environmental health department - with owners questioned about oven maintenance.
Inspectors said the results were shocking - with only three out of 27 businesses hiring an engineer to service their ovens. They also revealed that only two of the three engineers used had the necessary skills to work on catering equipment.
Councillor Neil Eustace, Chair of the Public Protection Committee, said "Only 14 premises were using a safe method for lighting the oven. The cylindrical design of the tandoor with an ignition source at the bottom, means that when gas builds up inside and an employee leans in to light it, the oven effectively becomes like a cannon. The potential for injuries is high and that is why we have served a number of enforcement notices".
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Birmingham City Council