The Importance of
Employee Hand Washing in Food Establishments
Several members of this blog work
in restaurants and are well aware of the dangers of improper food sanitation.
Therefore, the location selected was the bathroom of a popular food chain, Panera Bread. This
decision was made due to the high traffic volume of the establishment and lack
of education in the importance of cleanliness. More specifically calling
attention to employee hand washing after using the restroom.
This represents a public health
issue because efforts to control the spread of disease when handling food are
important. As noted in an article
regarding the provisions in the FDA food code, hand washing is considered an
intermediate/high priority. An intermediate health violation is if an inspector
finds the restroom hand washing sign to be missing. If the inspector were to
witness an employee not washing their hands after restroom use, it is
considered to be a high priority violation.You can read more about this provision here.
This issue
is important because the education and emphasis on proper hand washing amongst
food handlers is necessary to prevent the spreading of diseases and viruses.
Failure to properly maintain sanitation procedures in an establishment can lead
to cross-contamination and food borne illnesses. The members of this group who work in a
restaurant have seen first hand how easily bacteria can spread through the restaurant
staff. It’s also possible to have spread bacteria to customers thus affecting a
larger population. By having these strict violations to encourage proper and
frequent hand washing, this risk can be reduced.
I have had a personal experience of someone not washing their hands after using the bathroom and went back to serving food. However, I did not know this until it was too late. Because of their lack of hygiene I got a parasite and was bed bound for 2 weeks. It is so extremely important that you clean your hands after using the bathroom. I had no idea that some many problems can arise from poor hygiene. Even if germs may not bother you, you should at least have the common courtesy of not spreading your germs to someone else.
ReplyDeleteWashing your hands is very important! Such a simple measure can prevent the spread of disease. It is also important to take advantage of sensory sinks, paper towel machines and automatic doors. If those are not available, I carefully use a paper towel to open the door than discard it after. Restaurant workers should absolutely have to wash their hands. Even after that, they should be required to wear gloves as an extra barrier. Great job on your blog group!
ReplyDeleteI believe that washing your hands is one of the simplest ways to prevent unnecessary and harmful diseases. This picture and post stood out to me the most because I had not even thought about this as an example for public health, yet it is a great choice. I also work in the food industry so this post shows that washing your hands affects not only yourself, but every person in the restaurant as well. It is scary to here the statistics on people who do not wash their hands after using the restroom. Hand-washing needs a lot more promotion and the effects it can have on a community if not done properly. The best place to teach the importance of hand-washing would be in elementary and middle schools. If schools invested more in teaching their students this simple yet important task, public health in communities would increase significantly.
ReplyDeleteThis is a great example of public health! Having sinks in restrooms is a privilege that I think many people take for granted. By washing their hands, people are making a cleaner and healthier environment for themselves and others. Hand washing is especially important in restaurants. Posting a sign which states that employees must wash their hands not only assures customers that their health is taken into consideration by their food handlers, but it also reminds employees to be hygienic. This promotes a safer and more sanitary environment for all.
ReplyDelete