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Personal
Hygiene
Part Two |
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Safety Management System 2007 |
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SMS ST048 2007 |
Why is personal hygiene important to food safety?
As previously discussed, harmful bacteria and viruses are everywhere, even on healthy people. These bacteria and viruses from people contaminate food. This contamination could potentially lead to foodborne illnesses. Practicing good personal hygiene can control this form of contamination.
How can workers practice good personal hygiene?
- Do not come to work sick. Stay at home and get well.
- Be sure to cover cuts and abrasions with a bandage and use disposable gloves. (This person might be assigned other duties until wound is healed).
- Bath or shower daily or more if necessary.
- Keep hair clean and always wear hair restraint
- Trim and clean fingernails, do not wear polish or false fingernails, and leave jewelry at home.
- Wear a clean uniform daily; change if necessary during the day.
- Wear a clean apron; change during the day if it gets soiled. Do not use it for a towel.
- Wash hands constantly after each task, such as: prepping different types of food (from handling raw meat to making salads to making tea, coffee), after touching face or hair, smoking, going to the bathroom, or coming into the galley from BR work. Wash hands constantly during your shift.
- Wash hands correctly. The longer they are washed, the more likely the bacteria on the hands will be killed.
- Use sink designed for washing hands, not washing dishes
- Use water as hot as the hands can comfortably stand
- Moisten hands, soap thoroughly and lather to the elbow
- Scrub hands thoroughly, using friction for at least 20 seconds. Use a brush for nails
- Rinse thoroughly under running water
- Dry hands on single-service towels or hot air dryer
- Use disposable gloves when handling foods. Change them when changing tasks. Wash hands before changing gloves. Use rubber gloves when washing dishes. Discard when they get dirty, torn or contaminated.
- Good personal sanitary habits must be observed:
- Never smoke or chew around food.
- Do not sneeze or cough around food
- Do not touch or scratch any part of your body while handling food
REMEMBER TO WASH HANDS FREQUENTLY!