Personal Hygiene

WHAT YOU SHOULD DO ALWAYS
 

Personal hygiene must play an essential part in the day to day running of any safe food operation.
Personal cleanliness is:

• Your moral duty.
• Your LEGAL duty.
• Something to be proud of.

Many types of food poisoning bacteria live on or in our bodies and it is therefore absolutely essential that certain basic rules are followed to try to prevent their transfer onto food.
REMEMBER that if you have bad habits like touching your nose, eyes, lips or hair, licking your fingers or biting your nails that you are in real danger of contaminating food with bacteria.  You must become aware of any bad habits and stop them.

Daily Personal Hygiene Check List

• Bathe or shower daily.
• Brush teeth several times a day.
• Wash hair regularly - including beards.
• Keep finger nails short, clean and do not wear nail varnish.
• Do not wear any jewellery as it may unfasten and fall into food or drink or could trap dirt.
• Do not wear strong perfume or aftershave as the smell may taint food.
• Have a clean change of clothing every day.
• Make sure that protective clothing provided for you is kept clean.

Whilst at Work

You have to work with your hands and to avoid contaminating food with food poisoning bacteria YOU must keep your hands clean.
Wash them frequently and in particular they must be washed AFTER:

• Going to the toilet.
• A break in the rest room.
• Touching your face or hair.
• Sneezing, coughing, or blowing your nose.
• Cleaning duties.
• Touching dirty surfaces or utensils.
• Handling raw food.
• Handling rubbish.

Do Use

A wash hand basin provided for hand washing only.  It must have:

• Hot water.
• Soap.
• Paper towels or other means of hand drying.

Do Make Sure You Wash

• Palms
• Back of hands 
• Between fingers
• Under nails

Do Not

• Eat, drink, smoke or comb your hair in any food room.

Do Wear

• All protective clothing provided and change it regularly.

Do Cover

• Minor cuts and abrasions with a suitable, brightly coloured waterproof dressing.

Visitors To Kitchens

• All visitors must comply with personal hygiene rules and this includes delivery staff

Remember - Clean Food Deserves Clean Staff

  SOURCE: Environmental Health Department.