Guide - Food Safety & Personal Hygiene
- Water is a food product – treat it with the same hygiene standards as food prep.
- Do not work with water if you have vomiting or diarrhoea; never cough, sneeze, or smoke near it.
- Cover cuts/wounds with a waterproof, coloured plaster.
- Wash hands: before touching food/water, after bathroom/breaks/bins/cleaning, after touching raw meat/fish/eggs/unwashed veg.
Water is a food product, so operational guidelines must be approached with the same care and attention as food preparation. Personal hygiene is essential to avoid spreading bacteria to food or water.
Before Working with Food or Water
- Tie hair back; do not work with food or water if you have vomiting or diarrhoea.
- Avoid touching your face when dispensing water, and never cough or sneeze over it.
- Do not smoke when working with food or water.
- Cover cuts and wounds with a waterproof, coloured plaster.
When to Wash Your Hands
- After using the bathroom, sneezing, coughing or blowing your nose.
- Before touching any food product or water.
- After touching raw meat, fish, eggs or unwashed vegetables.
- After touching a cut or changing a dressing.
- After touching or emptying bins.
- After any break where you’ve touched other things.
- After cleaning an area.
- After touching light switches, door handles, etc., before working with food products.
- Also required: wear clean clothing, and wear disposable gloves.
The 6-Step Hand-Wash Routine
- Wet hands under warm running water and apply soap.
- Rub palms together.
- Rub fingers and palms, including the spaces between them.
- Rub fingers and thumbs.
- Rub nails and palms.
- Rub thumbs in palms, then fingers in palms.
- Dry hands thoroughly with a paper towel or clean towel.