Food Safety First

Proper Hand Washing And Glove Use

It seems that almost everyday the local news features yet another story on a person who has fallen ill after eating at a restaurant. The illnesses may vary, but the culprit is usually the same: restaurant employees have not practiced proper hygiene or followed the necessary steps to prevent passing a foodborne disease to a patron.

The good news is that this scenario can be prevented with a few basic steps, the first of which is practicing good personal hygiene. This includes:

• Proper hand washing
• Strictly enforcing rules for employees regarding eating, drinking and smoking
• Preventing ill employees from working with food
• Promoting overall cleanliness

The most common methods for preventing the spread of foodborne illnesses are proper hand washing and the use of disposable gloves. Employees should always wash their hands after using the restroom and after touching any potential contaminants, such as bodily fluids, trash, dirty cloths, dirty work surfaces, raw foods and unsanitized equipment. And it never hurts to remind employees of the basics of proper hand washing:

• Wet your hands under warm running water
• Use an antibacterial soap
• Lather and rub hands together for at least 20 seconds
• Rinse
• Dry your hands with a clean paper towel or hot air dryer

A common misconception is that gloves can be substituted for hand washing. Gloves alone should not be used in place of handwashing, but washing your hands first and putting on a clean pair of gloves will provide an effective barrier. Wearing gloves that fit properly and changing them as often as necessary will maximize their effectiveness. Here are a few reminders about when to change gloves:

• As soon as they become soiled or torn
• Before beginning a different task
• At least every four hours during continual use
• After handling raw meat and before handling cooked or ready-to-eat foods

Good personal hygiene and general cleanliness are still the most basic ways to protect your employees and patrons from foodborne diseases. If your employees practice these basic steps, everyone can enjoy a safer workplace.

Contributed by American Health Products, Itasca, IL