Food safety: introduction to personal hygiene

Protective clothing should be stored under clean hygienic conditions and be regularly cleaned and thoroughly laundered. The company also needs to ensure that a sufficient quantity of protective clothing is available at all times.

Injury exposure

If a food handler is injured, that injury could lead to the food being poisoned. You must make sure that all injuries to food handlers are covered.

If there is any risk of contamination, even with company-issued dressing or barrier protection such as a glove, the individual must be relieved of duties and not allowed to resume activities until considered deemed fit to do so by the manager responsible for food safety.

For injuries that are covered, the dressing must be issued by the company; and a record must be made of the issuing of this dressing. Supervisors need to be aware of the issuing of the dressing and be vigilant in ensuring that it is in place and that it poses no risk of product contamination.

Jewelry and personal belongings

Jewelry, if worn, can harbor dirt and bacteria and can itself contaminate food as a foreign body. It is understood that certain jewelry may be worn but it must not pose a risk of contamination to the product.

Rings and earrings may be allowed but these must be of a design to ensure easy cleaning and they or any components cannot fall off. Good examples of acceptable jewelry are solid band rings and one piece sleeper earrings.

Watches should not be worn in the production area.

Other personal effects, such as money and mobile telephones, must be stored away from any production area and never allowed in the immediate vicinity of food production.

Importance of hand-washing

This module has stressed, for obvious reasons, the need for rigorous hand-washing regimes.

Continually reminding your staff and verifying that they are abiding by hand-washing rules will serve to remind them of the absolute necessity for personal cleanliness at all times.

The hand-washing regime, which should instill personal discipline, must be encouraged by those responsible for food safety.

Jewelry and personal belongings

Jewelry, which often harbors dirt and bacteria, can contaminate food.

It is understood that certain jewelry (such as a wedding ring) may be worn, but it must not pose a risk of contamination to the product.

Rings and earrings may be allowed, but these must be of a design to ensure easy cleaning and not have any components that can fall off. Good examples of acceptable jewelry are solid band rings and one-piece sleeper earrings.

Watches cannot not be worn in the production area.

Other personal effects, such as money and mobile telephones, must be stored away from any production area and never allowed in the immediate vicinity of food production.

Illness

Food handlers who have an illness pose a direct hazard to the product by increasing the risk of contamination of the foods being prepared or produced.

The person responsible for food safety must be aware of the increased risk and be able to identify the symptoms of illnesses. A procedure needs to be in place to minimize the risk of contamination and safeguard the health of the customer.