Sanitation - Part ll
You don’t want to even think about going here…………..
Keeping yourself and others healthy
We talked about sanitation and how important it is to recognize foods that are no longer safe to eat applying our senses; using expiration dates as guidelines only. We will focus this segment on our own habits, how they’re perceived and how to avoid harm to ourselves and others.
The most important way to prevent spreading illnesses (especially in flu season) is to properly wash your hands many times a day. Proper hand washing includes soap and water and thoroughly wash entire hands long enough to sing the happy birthday song twice. Hand washing needs to be done after using the restroom, sneezing, smoking, touching your body, shaking hands with someone who’s ill, handling soiled items or anything that has the potential to spread germs.
It’s understandable that you can’t constantly run to a restroom to wash your hands. But every time you shake hands with someone who’s ill you need to train yourself to keep your hands away from your face and others until you’re able to properly wash your hands.
It has always been a struggle to inform employees to stay home when they’re not feeling well. Most people need every single paycheck to survive and they do their best to hide a bad cold, fever or flu to maintain working. I understand that completely but it needs to be looked at differently. The consequences can be damaging if an employee comes to work with an illness that can spread to everyone else. Not only do the workers get sick but there’s potential to also get customers/members ill. Managers need to be diligent in knowing their team well enough to recognize when they may need to be sent home to protect many more people. The same procedure goes for anyone exhibiting skin infections especially when festered sores are present.
Sometimes we don’t realize people are watching us when we display our habits. Scratching our armpits, crotches, head, face, legs, etc. can nauseate a customer/member when they know you’ll be handling their food. If your body needs attention in this fashion it would behoove you to get to a restroom. Please remember to wash your hands before heading back out in front of people.
Keeping your body clean with a bath or shower daily and applying deodorant is important. Dirty fingernails are unacceptable and should be scrubbed with a nail brush before work when needed. Teeth should be brushed after every meal or at least a mouthwash utilized. When time is limited a breath mint is acceptable. Hair should be clean, neat and tied back or up off shoulders if hair is long.
I can’t say enough about the overuse of colognes and perfumes. Anybody who works around food and serving the public needs to curtail the use of these products or avoid them completely. Some people are very sensitive to scents and will literally get ill. For me, if I’m around a strong perfume or cologne it heads straight up my nose and takes up residence in my taste buds. There is no enjoyment eating when my food tastes like perfume.
Take good care of yourself all year around and know when it’s time to stay home and get better. Working when not feeling up to par can further your illness which may keep you out of work longer and cost you even more money.
