r/KitchenConfidential • u/Big-Economist-7026 • Jul 23 '25
Photo/Video This is an insane safety hazard, right? I’m not crazy?
Hanging between the dishwashing pit and prep station
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u/skitwostreet Jul 23 '25
Is that dishpit plugged into that surge protector? No way someone designed that kitchen and had no other space to put an outlet?
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Jul 23 '25
Restaurant designers seem to have never worked in restaurants
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u/anonstarcity Jul 23 '25
I managed ONE restaurant that was laid out so beautifully I could cry. Everything made sense. The walkins, the outlets, the kitchen and bar flows, it all was so obviously designed by a former restaurant worker. And it was an Applebees in a small town, that since closed because the town wasn’t big enough to support it. Damn shame.
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u/eatrepeat Jul 23 '25
Worked a cafeteria at a university for near a decade. Huge production kitchen that was designed for a culinary program that was shut down 15 yrs before I got there. One long, wide hall from the loading dock all the way through the kitchen to the end where a freight elevator went up to the cafeteria. Flow of product and labour just went so smoothly, everything had ample space and various event spaces could store specialised equipment until needed. Oh and a ton of large industrial equipment made light work of a 500+ events. I miss that 70 gallon tilt skillet, the half a dozen chinois, Hobart attachments I never needed and all sizes of inserts in volumes that made none "the precious".
Say what you will about corporate cooking cause it isn't luxury but when it's nice it is a damn smooth ride with less of the vomit kitchen culture ;)
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u/Turbulent_Square_696 Jul 24 '25
Just got back into corporate cooking after a ‘break’ in the real world and man, the 6am start is rough but m-f, better pay and benefits, the space in the kitchen! Air conditioning!! I dont know what it is about getting bent over a line that I start to miss after a while but it’s nice for now lol
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u/eatrepeat Jul 24 '25
If you are doing it well in that environment just network. The chemical rep and everyone else. You got reliable work ethic in spades to those eyes ;)
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u/Enough_Ad_9338 Jul 24 '25
Best kitchen I ever worked in was a Boy Scout summer camp kitchen. It had outlets to spare, it had counter tops with enough room for each kitchen staff to prep three things at once, it had gritty non slip floors, it had so much floor space that it wasn’t actually a bother if non kitchen staff came back there right before meal time, it had two walk in fridges and a a full walk in freezer. Its dish pit had a double washer and full space for sinks and racks that made it unnecessary for anything to ever be stacked on the floor. This building was a barn that was converted with passion to cook for and serve about 200 in a single sitting and it was a dream to cook in.
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u/GoSuckOnACactus Jul 23 '25 edited Jul 23 '25
When the floor drains are elevated and have holes so small a lemon seed clogs them. Oh, and the covers are bolted onto the floor so you can’t clean them.
Love that shit man, really gets me going.
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u/stic_u Jul 24 '25
Oh don't get me started
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u/GoSuckOnACactus Jul 24 '25
No man get started cause I get started every fuckin day here doing the floors.
The floor bulge is so disrespectful.
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u/stic_u Jul 24 '25
It's so fucking stupid. I mean who the fuck thought that it's easy to wipe water up a fucking hill. And why does it happen? Have the floors been re done in a way where they don't rip out the old floor and just put the new shit on top. Are the floor guys always drunk and lazy? Or is the idea here that all the shit that gathers on the floor during a shift doesn't clog the drain cuz it's elevated? I would love to be there when whoever is in charge comes up with these decisions
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u/FonzoLatrundo Jul 24 '25
I worked in a place where the owner poured epoxy floors with the grippy beads in the epoxy. Non slip as all hell. He poured it right up the walls where they meet the floor to direct standing water from the walls. Then he installed 3 wall mounted pressure washers on reels. The dishwashers just power washed the floors every night and the water ran down the drains. It was magic. I could pressure wash the deep fryers and run the water through a chinois onto the floor and down the drain it went. Too bad everything else sucked about the place.
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u/Stock_Proposal_9001 Jul 24 '25
The drain pipe is mounted where it is while the floor has settled, the best fix is to tear out the tile around the pipe, tear out the concrete around the pipe, cut the pipe lower, re-lay the concrete and re-lay the tile, fixed, and in a few years if the floor.
This is most often the case, but that cuts into operation budget, and is time-consuming, and has to stay dry, the only way that can be guaranteed in a professional kitchen is to stop operation for at least a day, more likly two, not worth it for most owner/operators, your labor is cheaper.
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u/stic_u Jul 24 '25
Thank you for explaining. It still fucking sucks
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u/Stock_Proposal_9001 Jul 24 '25
Oh fuck yea it sucks, no argument there at all. Happy to share knowledge
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u/TyRocken دجاجة فاسدة Jul 24 '25
Lol. I used to work at this Italian joint. Well, they built a brand new restaurant right across the street. Brand new everything. So, they obviously put floor drains in this brand new kitchen. I told the chef/owner that we could scrub/wet mop/squeegee the floors at night. Well, he apparently had a friend do the floor... So, the first night, I threw some degreaser on the floor to scrub it. And.... It all went away from the floor drains, right to the walls. I just stood there, blank faced, looked up at him, and he just scowled, and went to the bar. 😂
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u/cynical-rationale Jul 24 '25
Lol I don't get drains like this. I've seen far too many. Its so dumb. They should have same drainage systems as warehouses imo where they will take big rocks down the drain.
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u/studentlife11 Jul 23 '25
Read this 6 times but couldn't figure out what was wrong. You are not referring to the item plugged in as a dipshit. I need to go to sleep.
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u/BranchyShadows Jul 24 '25
I wonder if this "non-slip" dipshit dishpit was fitted out by a drip in an ill fit pit fitting outfit?
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u/ranDOMinique813 Jul 23 '25
Aaaaand that is the dish connected to the power strip yup. What in the world 😂
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u/Lowlifepaladin Jul 24 '25
Every time I read the word /Dishpit/, I honestly read it as Dipshit 100% of the time every first time…
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u/ElGuaco Jul 23 '25
I looked up the spec sheet on these washers. They require a 20amp circuit. That power bar is probably rated for 15 amps and so is the cable probably. The real danger here electrically speaking is that the cord and or power bar becomes a very melty fuse if overloaded.
If you're going to do this, get an outdoor rated cord and power bar and get one long enough you could run it up the wall and across the ceiling. This is just multiple levels of stupid and I would call the fire department before I worked in that kitchen.
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u/bobi2393 Jul 23 '25
Fire code prefers electrical cords strung a consistent 2.0"-3.5" above the floor, to better snag people's feet if they don't step high enough.
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u/This-Unit-1954 Jul 24 '25
Fire Marshalls also love multiple extension cords daisy-chained together to reach that last functioning outlet. But seriously that looks like a brand new install. Maybe the OPs just waiting on the electrician to come run a circuit
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u/jk_nvsnow Jul 23 '25
Yes, just announce every single time you have to cross it. "Stepping over cord" as you would say "corner"
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u/Specialist-Eye-6964 Jul 23 '25
Unless it’s the lines fan. Then it’s perfectly normal and acceptable 😳
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u/simplebutstrange 20+ Years Jul 23 '25
It looks like its the power for the dishwasher
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u/junkyard_robot Jul 23 '25
Which should be direct wired, and should have a gfci breaker.
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u/Katsuichi Jul 23 '25
all of the dish machines i’ve gotten familiar with have been plugs into outlets. it’s possible that outlet has shit the bed and they need a workaround until it can be fixed. It would be better if they got an extension cord and gaffing tape, for sure.
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u/Kindly-Department686 Jul 23 '25
This should be higher. Everytime I had an inspection, any sort of permanent equipment had to be hard-wired. And any sort of lead cord was a no-no. We still had to use them for floor fans or other occasional equipment, but never anything like this.
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u/Cat_tophat365247 Jul 23 '25
This is a Final Destination type of hazard. You can report it anonymously to your fire marshall. It's seriously a big no no.
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u/UnderstandingSmall66 Jul 23 '25
This is infuriating because it can easily be avoided with less than $20 worth of stuff from any hardware store.
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u/WitELeoparD Jul 24 '25
Yep a longer extension cable and a roll of tape to tape it down to the floor.
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u/Aero_naughty Jul 23 '25
you're crazy for even asking
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u/Nuclearsunburn Ex-Food Service Jul 23 '25
They probably get gaslit every time they bring it up in person
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u/Religion_Of_Speed Jul 23 '25
It's certainly unideal, that's for sure. Personally I'd unplug it immediately and start a conversation between everyone involved. I'd be tempted to just cut the cord to prevent any sort of fuckery until the problem is solved but it's gotta be a bad day for that solution. Then we can all talk to the fire marshall together. After that we can all go out for ice cream and floor mats.
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u/mydogmakesdecisions Jul 23 '25
The owners need to have an electrician replace the GFCI behind the machine. 20amp
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u/stucky602 Jul 23 '25
I’m in a different industry now so I don’t know, but in mine this is a fire hazard because of the surge protector used to power a large piece of equipment. Is it the same for you all?
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u/PurchaseTight3150 Chef Jul 23 '25 edited Jul 23 '25
8.5/10 bad. So not quite insanely dangerous. But definitely crazily dangerous. Insanely dangerous is like playing Russian roulette with your cock/cooter, or something. So let’s not hyperbolize and exaggerate now.
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u/Germacide 20+ Years Jul 24 '25
Why the hell would Auto-Chlor install a machine when there isn't an outlet behind it to hook it up to?! That's the dumbest thing a contractor could ever do.
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u/Admirable-Kitchen737 Jul 23 '25
Thought commercial dish machines are 220v.
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u/ChefJim27 Jul 23 '25
Not all. Most single tank low temp machines are 120v. Most High Temps and conveyors are 240. Double tanks can be either. If they are forced to use an extention cord, they ought to get a 50ft cord and run it where it isn't a hazard.
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u/StrangeArcticles Jul 24 '25
Sometimes I wonder how we're all still alive.
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u/Excellent_Condition Jul 24 '25
Survivors bias. The people who aren't alive aren't around to wonder.
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u/computingesoterica Jul 24 '25
There's no way this is real. This is a prank. Or karma farming. Or maybe I'm just a sweet summer child who can't handle the reality of this atrocity.
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u/simplebutstrange 20+ Years Jul 23 '25
You aren’t even supposed to have a space heater on one of those power bars let alone an entire industrial dishwasher 😳
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u/imissmolly1 Jul 23 '25
Definitely need a longer cord and a mat to cover it. Don’t worry the electrician will be as soon as we pay him for last month’s work!
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u/The_Wandering_Ones Jul 24 '25
This is unsafe for so many ways, and the first time you have a health inspection, they will probably say something about it. They need to get an electrician out there to set that thing up properly. But if you tell your manager any of this they will just ask if you're wearing a stupid ass cut glove and keep it pushin.
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u/Huge-Basket244 Jul 24 '25
That shouldn't be plugged into a extension cord or power supply. It's an osha violation. Floor that's regular wet like that should probably have a non slip. Those machines in my experience are required go have a dedicated circuit.
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u/DoomguyFemboi Jul 24 '25
You're out of line here. What is the owner supposed to do, spend a couple hundred on an electrician to come in and put a socket in ?! Next you'll be expecting them to pay for new parts! Then what ? FIX THE DRAINS ?! IN THIS ECONOMY?!
You're a traitor to daddy capitalism and your actions have been noted.
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u/Chefcid Jul 23 '25
At least bring it to waist level and expose the wires to keep the new dishie in his place.
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u/AlibiYouAMockingbird Jul 23 '25
This has to be temporary. Ain’t no way any inspector worth anything is allowing this. I’m not even talking about a health or safety inspector, shit the pest control man can and should probably flag you for that.
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u/DicemonkeyDrunk Jul 23 '25
I wouldn’t say INSANE … but it’s not a good fix ..at least get a longer cord and tape it down or throw a mat over it.
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u/chocolatecroissant9 Jul 23 '25
Between that, and the damp patches on the slippery brick, that's a lawsuit waiting to happen
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u/Colanasou Jul 24 '25
Is this usual there or was it an emergency plug to keep things going? If the plug is always like that then for sure, but if an outlet died and you need a few days then its not that bad but id probably hang something off it for visibility for the time its up
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u/banshee-luver Bakery Jul 24 '25
Our owner plugged in a dumbass cord like this for a swamp cooler and someone tripped over it and broke the prongs right off the plug in a day lmao
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u/UnhelpfulBread Jul 23 '25
Absolutely. You should light it on fire for visibility. In fact, in addition to that, you should have two designated people, one on each end, swinging the cord in a circular motion. Oh shit, and then you know what, actually this reminds me of a minigame from Mario Party.
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u/string1264 Jul 23 '25
I'd be sending the least busy employee to the store for an extension cord and duct tape. Run that shit along the ceiling until an electrician can show up.
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u/Professional_King790 Jul 23 '25
Just put one of those yellow wet floor signs draped over the cord.
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u/Bigringcycling Jul 23 '25
Let us know if you need recommendations for personal injury and workers comp lawyers.
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u/AllHailTheHypnoTurd Jul 23 '25
Just unplug when health inspector, have “out of order” sign ready close by
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u/drbongmd Jul 23 '25
What others have said above but also I'm pretty sure that for building code you can't have permanent fixtures on extension cords, so could also call code enforcement
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u/kinleyson Jul 23 '25
Whatever that cord is for, it's unnecessary. If its a critical piece of equipment lol. It would be figured out before this happened
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u/Sea_Negotiation_1871 15+ Years Jul 23 '25
Dude, it's not even safe to be in that building. That's an insane fire hazard. Call the inspector, show them this photo, and get another job.
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u/DogComprehensive1372 Jul 23 '25
If I remember correctly, extension cords/power strips are not allowed in kitchens or any part of a restaurant. That is the case where I worked. A fire hazard among other reasons.
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u/barby_dolly Jul 23 '25
Not to mention COMPLETELY AGAINST FIRE CODES. Even HS auditoriums (non profits) must obey the fire codes. All cords must be taped down anytime they cross a walking path. I’m pretty sure this area qualifies. Unless they’re closed for renovation.
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u/Quercus408 Jul 23 '25
Theres pretty clear rules about extension cords and hoses flowing through the kitchen. No, youre not crazy
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u/Commercial_Fox4749 Jul 24 '25
Omg that kitchen looks so familiar, does it happen to be around the PSL area? Youd know what I'm referring to if it is.
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u/blacfd Jul 24 '25
Former cook, now an electrician. Everything about this is a hazard. This is an owner who only cares about money. Get a new job ASAP. If you can afford to, quit now and look for work.
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u/Xafria Jul 24 '25
Thats wild. How can a managee allow this. Electricity by the water is soo dangerous.
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u/cynical-rationale Jul 24 '25
Lol I'm showing my coworker this in my meeting tomorrow. I'm on health and safety board for my work. This is hilariously bad.
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u/Dead_KingZ78 Jul 24 '25
Not at all. It’s not crazy if you ever wanted 120volts running a full lap through your nervous system before planking face first into a rack full of ceramic dishes!
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u/i_ar_the_rickness Ex-Food Service Jul 24 '25
It’s definitely a hazard. It could cause an electrical shock and damage a person or the equipment. Source: I’m a tech that fixes restaurant equipment.
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u/KozenyCarman Jul 24 '25
"Hey Boss, the Worker's Comp Cord is dangling a little low. Can I raise it up a bit so it's easier to see?"
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u/SouthernIntention963 Jul 24 '25
Don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m also a boss. I should know. Right? 🧠💀
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u/Vayguhhh Jul 24 '25
It would be a shame if while carrying something (while wearing non slip) that you fell in a way that didn’t hurt you permanently but could net you some paid time off
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u/banjocoyote 15+ Years Jul 24 '25
Literally the general industry OSHA 10 videos have situations like this in them
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Jul 24 '25
Nah this is 100% osha regulations. Slap a wet floor sign down to be safe and you're golden.
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u/Zswanson22 Jul 24 '25
Get a much longer cable and run it across the ceiling to where it needs to go. If that’s the only option for power.
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u/Big-Economist-7026 Jul 24 '25
I’m about to go through a reply to people, but I want to add details in a general comment-
-I’ve worked here for almost a year, it’s been changed to that as of today.
-This is 100% one of those restaurants where unless you hold a share they won’t/dont listen to a word you say
-the kitchen manager spends A LOT of time in an unused party room playing wild rift(?) on his phone
-I am 1000% considering staging a fall for workers comp, any advice? (Joking!) ((Kind of))
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u/Active-Succotash-109 20+ Years Jul 24 '25
The picture is completely safe , the kitchen, not so much
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u/quetristes Jul 24 '25
I got a good one of these myself unfortunately. This was dead serious and done by the executive KM. Also fwiw this is old I quit shortly after the picture was taken.
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u/michaelw7671 Jul 24 '25
Cord is a trip hazard and the outlet strip is a no-go. I think it can only be used until the correct plug is installed.
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u/IwouldpickJeanluc Jul 24 '25
Wait where's that dude who didn't know about the extension cords from the ceiling. Lol
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u/TortasTilDeath Jul 23 '25
For sure. Definitely need a nonslip mat.