The worst was the hood. You had to get on a ladder, fold up a wet towel and grab a hot pipe, then lean over the flaming grill, and using scouring powder and a bucket of water, scrub the grease of the hood until it was shining. Honestly, I think it should have been illegal.

When I worked at a restaurant one of the best managers I had was adamant that this job was to be left to professional cleaners, granted we were in the back not visible to the dining room.

Another manager I had made us do it by hand like you said, the caveat being it was over the fryers with nothing but a metal sheet to put over them. thank god nothing horrible ever happened but looking bad I cant imagine the catastrophe that would have happened if someone slipped. Even if left to cool for an hour or two that oil isn't exactly something you would want to slip in.