Don’t put off maintenance calls, warns FEA – it’s risky and it could be very expensive.

“Delays to PPM are a short-sighted solution that could be disastrous”

FEA has warned that operators who are postponing service visits and Planned Preventative Maintenance (PPM) calls are not only putting customers and staff at risk, but are also creating serious problems for the industry in the coming months.

The easing of lockdown has led to foodservice operators working hard to try to make up for lost time.  With busy, stretched kitchens some are putting off planned maintenance calls, because they don’t have time to fit them in.  Meanwhile other operators, trying to avoid having external visitors into the kitchen, are also deferring service calls by engineers.  Then there are a few who are seeking a short term cash flow advantage, but at what cost?  FEA is calling for common sense to prevail – any delay in servicing appliances is not only potentially dangerous and costly, it will also create a backlog that will itself create further delays as service providers struggle to catch up.

“The issue is especially worrying with gas equipment,” says Malcolm Skinner, chair of FEA’s Service Providers Group.  “PPM helps ensure compliance and it’s the operator’s legal responsibility to keep staff and customers safe.  Plus, a timely service check can save a huge amount of money – especially if the delay leads to equipment failure and the need to replace it.”

For any operator who has delayed a PPM visit, FEA suggests they contact their service provider as quickly as possible to rearrange.  If they need to find a new service company, then they should always look for one that is recognised by a third party, such as the FEA Accredited Service Provider Scheme.

“If the delays to PPM mount up too much, service providers simply won’t have the capacity to reschedule all the missed visits, once operators come to their senses,” says Skinner.  “We need to keep equipment working safely and efficiently – and that means keeping up with the servicing, too.  Delays to PPM are a short-sighted solution that could be disastrous.”