High level microwaves in caravans
I am writing to see if anyone is aware of any data regarding the number of burns resulting from accidents in removing hot food from eye level microwaves in caravans /motorhomes.
It seems to me the most illogical place to site a microwave is at eye level. I am fairly tall and still have difficulty lowering hot dishes especially those containing liquid to place on the work surface, I wonder how less tall ladies cope.Obviously due
to the position the face and eyes are very vulnerable when lifting food down to the work surface.
Has anyone ever recorded any accidents that have occurred, and maybe the designers could rethink the position in the newer design vans.
Sailorgirl2
Comments
-
the microwave in our Bolero was like that, but i didnt really have an issue.....i am 5' 10"...
OH at 5' 4" might have thought otherwise...
we dont have a microwave in our current van, but the actual oven (Tec Tower) is set high above the already tall fridge/freezer....a tad too high for OH so I am the chief user.
i agree that these devices (MW or oven) should be set a bit lower....never heard of any nasty accidents but it wouldn't surprise me if there have been one or two.
0 -
All our caravans and now our M/H have had/have eye level microwaves. As I'm 5' 7" and OH 5' 9" we have not had a problem, my microwave at home is at the same height above my built in oven so am used to it. I've noticed that in some new vans (continental
types) that the mini oven is set at knee height under the sinks
can say that I would like that, possible chance of getting a burnt knee if
adult or worse for a child. In some carvans 2 berth I think, I've seen the microwave at counter height however these type of caravans do have a double counter 1 each side of the van so there is plenty of room for putting one there, not always possible in
bigger vans.0 -
I think people have a responsibility to think about what are doing in terms of appliances. It could be argued that reaching down to a low positioned oven, as is the case in many caravans and motorhomes, you stand the risk of of burning yourself. OK its
unlikely that you would spill hot liquid over you. So if you are using a microwave you have to be careful and take the neccessary procautions to prevent having an accident.David
0 -
Self monitored risk assessments, H & S rules and Regs
None of these would be necessary if accidents didn't happen. But they do and the OP's point is very valid. Microwaves are dangerously high. The people that build caravans will have taken risk assessments for their work force in their factory but tend to
overlook the end result for the consumer for the sake of asthetically pleasing looks to sell their product.My wife solved the problem of our eye level microwave, she never uses it apart from a bread box.
0 -
For couples like us at 5ft 6 in the eye level microwaves are a risk. The problem is that when you buy the caravan the location is obvious so at law you are probably deemed to have accepted the risk. If however they were placed in the workplace any risk assessment
should puck up the burning risk making them unacceptable.Our caravan does have one at a sensible height but that is not consistant throughout the model range.
With ovens at ground level the risk is lower as you are lifting items up so the risk of moving liquids at heights is avoided.
0 -
Our height and the fact that the microwave in our van is not as high as some, mean we do not have any real problem. However, as with a lot of things it is possiible to minimise risks. If the containers used are designed for a microwave and are easy to pick
up, the risk of spillage is reduced. Also use of a slightly larger container, so it is not as full, is a sensible precaution. What has not been mentioned is their affect on Centre of gravity / stability with more and more things, that we never used to have,
being placed high up. I'm thinking of satalite dishes / domes, solar panels and permanent sun canopies.0 -
My OH has had more burns in the kitchen at home than a police state interviewee. Never had a problem with the head height microwave and she is of modest height.
0 -
Can someone tell me what all these liquids are that are being microwaved ?? We have a eye level M/W in the M/H and I am just carefull when taking something out of it .....
As are we husky. The sort of liquids I was talking about is boiling water in the bottom of the microwave steamer, which we use for cooking veg. The quantities are however fairly small, and the steamer is well designed for the job. You would have to be very
careless to spill anything.0 -
the height of our Tec Tower is exaggerated by the fact it sits over a pan drawer.
if the the drawer wasnt their, the whole unit would be around a foot lower....the storage could then be moved to above the unit.
ISTR that i saw one N+B van that had this arrangement, and it even had the fridge freezer split so that (from the bottom) the tower was tall fridge, oven, MW, freezer, storage cupboard...so the oven and MW ended up at a much lower (safer) height.
0 -
You can tell who wears a hard hat, hi viz vest and carries a clip board for a living! (Or did when they worked)
I did have a hard hat and a clip board but did not make the rules only investigate what happened after an accident. It does give you a different perspective on these things.
I am not one to wrap people in cotton wool, you do have to accept a certain amount of riskin life, but deliberately putting microwaves at height, especially those who do it over the hob is simply taking unneccessary risks with customers lives. If manufacturers can get the height down on some models, then they should be able to do it on all of them.
0 -
Can someone tell me what all these liquids are that are being microwaved ?? We have a eye level M/W in the M/H and I am just carefull when taking something out of it .....
As are we husky. The sort of liquids I was talking about is boiling water in the bottom of the microwave steamer, which we use for cooking veg. The quantities are however fairly small, and the steamer is well designed for the job. You would have to be very
careless to spill anything.Write your comments here...I cook fish in various sauces and there is a small amount of liquid in the dish and it is always hotter than the fish itself. However I thank you all for your comments, it was interesting reading. My reason for asking was that
on one occasion the cloth slipped as I was downloading and I nearly had a face full of salmon in ginger and plum sauce.It was that which made me think about it.However seems like all os ok in the world with caravan and microwaves. Thanks Guys. SG20 -
You can tell who wears a hard hat, hi viz vest and carries a clip board for a living! (Or did when they worked)
I did have a hard hat and a clip board but did not make the rules only investigate what happened after an accident. It does give you a different perspective on these things.
I am not one to wrap people in cotton wool, you do have to accept a certain amount of riskin life, but deliberately putting microwaves at height, especially those who do it over the hob is simply taking unneccessary risks with customers lives. If manufacturers
can get the height down on some models, then they should be able to do it on all of them.Would value a comprehensive explanation of how our lives are at risk in our caravan which has a microwave over the hob. Our home microwave is at height too, but we are still here after 20 years like that with no injuries, near misses or spills. Used to put
tins of tuna in a microwave underground in mines in a previous life, with no ill effects other than sometimes the tuna wasnt heated all the way through
0 -
Basically if you take care then a high level microwave should be reasonably safe but it does present unneccessary risks. Not sure what others cook in the microwave but when we are feeling lazy after a long day out we tend to get ready meals. These can comontain
things like gravy or melted cheese but whatever is very is in it is very hot and a moments carelessness or a slip could bring this lot down on top of you. The facy is that most of the time people will be safe buit you cannot ignore the fact that something
may distract you as you take hot food out or you could slip and spill it on yourself.The point I am making is that with good design this risk can be easily eliminated rather than anything more.
The idea of having the microwave over the hob though should be banned. This could cause far more serious problems in the event of an accident if the hob was in use. Youy simply should not be lifting hot food from a microwave over a lit gass hob.
0 -
Caravan and motorhome design is a compromise. If you lower the microwave you are going to give up working surface. We only use ours occasionally and are happy with the location but take care when using. OH has a step for reaching into top cupboards etc.
0 -
Precisely MM, Life is full of risks.... wouldn't life be so much safer if we banned all risks, acually I am amazed the EU haven't come up with a law to ban risks.
Write your comments here...I hear they are trying to ban referendums.
0 -
Caravan and motorhome design is a compromise. If you lower the microwave you are going to give up working surface. We only use ours occasionally and are happy with the location but take care when using. OH has a step for reaching into top cupboards etc.
Our caravan has the microwave at a sensible level without losing storage space. It is sometimes difficult but really a question of the designers not giving it enough thought.
0 -
Caravan and motorhome design is a compromise. If you lower the microwave you are going to give up working surface. We only use ours occasionally and are happy with the location but take care when using. OH has a step for reaching into top cupboards etc.
Our caravan has the microwave at a sensible level without losing storage space. It is sometimes difficult but really a question of the designers not giving it enough thought.
Its at a sensible height also in our Auto-sleepers so I guess you are right.
0
