Author Archives: Jarrett Wagner, Society Insurance Risk Control Representative

About Jarrett Wagner, Society Insurance Risk Control Representative

Jarrett obtained his B.A. degree in Criminal Justice from Illinois State University. He began his career at Society Insurance in 2008 in the Property, Auto, and Liability Claims department. While there, he earned his AIC and AIS and has spent the past three years in Risk Control.

DIY Commercial Refrigeration Maintenance Tips

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For centuries, harvesting ice was the only means of refrigerating perishable food items. If you lived in the United States, chances are you’d be relying on ice harvesters throughout New England to intricately pack the ice and make ready for a long transport. As you can imagine, shipping ice all across the country can be arduous and costly (even before you consider the loss of product while in transit).

It wasn’t until 1835, when the first patent was granted for a Vapor-Compression Refrigeration Cycle. Over the years, technology has vastly improved and almost everyone can recall growing up with a refrigerator in their own homes. As with many items that have become commonplace, we sometimes take for granted the amount of thought which went into the design and may overlook the importance of regular maintenance on the equipment after it has been installed. (more…)

Fire Preventive Maintenance for Deep Fryers

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This entry is part 12 of 14 in the series Fire Prevention

Many restaurants utilize some form of deep fat frying in their kitchen. These deep fryers are used to cook a variety of delicious foods: doughnuts, chicken wings, tortilla/potato chips, onion rings…the list goes on. While these items are undeniably popular and well-known throughout the world, little attention is given to the equipment that produces these tasty treats. This includes regular deep fryer maintenance and annual inspections by a qualified contractor.  (more…)

Clean Cooking Equipment to Prevent Grease Fires

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This entry is part 9 of 14 in the series Fire Prevention

Onion rings, french fries, cheese curds, fried chicken, Friday fish fry. Is your mouth watering yet? What do all of these have in common – aside from being delicious, of course? These are just a few of the culprits when it comes to the production of large amounts of grease involved with commercial cooking. While exhaust hoods are designed to collect a lot of these grease-laden vapors and residues during the cooking process, the commercial cooking equipment being used to heat up the food is often overlooked and can become a collection point for grease.

For each year from 2011 to 2013, an estimated 5,600 restaurant fires were reported to fire departments in the United States, resulting in no fewer than five deaths, 100 injuries, and $116 million in property damage. Of those 5,600 fires, 64% involved cooking and grease played a factor in nearly half of those incidents (Source: U.S. Fire Administration). (more…)

The Dangers of Deep Frying Turkey – with a Delicious (and Safer) Alternative

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It’s that time of the year again. The football season is underway, leaves are falling, and stomachs are rumbling with anticipation for that late Thursday in November when we dedicate a day to giving thanks. As you and your loved ones take time to reflect around the table, your gaze slowly shifts towards the delicious spread in front of you. While all of the food looks and smells wonderful, the main focus will no doubt be on that large, golden turkey in the center of the table.

Over the years, both the average consumer and restaurant owners have devised several different methods of cooking their whole turkeys in order to stand out from their friends and/or competitors. Eventually a trend grew among the public – attempts to deep fry whole turkeys outside, mainly in preparation for holidays or other occasions. Traditions have developed where the cook and onlookers stand over this outdoor deep fat fryer and listen as the oil sizzles and turkey quickly cooks. Many of us have seen these videos of whole turkeys flying out of the deep fat fryer or a large fire spreading to outlying areas (or in some cases, their own garages and homes). We may have joked or kidded with our friends about these scenarios, but I can assure you the people in the videos don’t find this funny. (more…)