The Paper Trail That Saves Kitchens: Why After-Service Reports Matter

Tue Oct 07 2025

If your hood cleaner isn’t leaving behind a detailed after-service report, you don’t just have a paperwork problem — you have a fire problem.

Every NFPA 96–compliant cleaning should end with a written after-service report. These reports document where grease was found, what was cleaned, and where access issues remain.

When reports are missing, vague, or never reviewed, unsafe conditions can go unnoticed until it’s too late. A pile of grease in your rooftop fan doesn’t care if you thought the cleaner got it.

Treat after-service reports like safety scorecards. Ask questions, demand photos, and keep them on file for inspectors — they may one day save your restaurant from disaster.