PERSONAL SAFETY HYGIENE
Bjon Del Rosario
Washing hands before cooking
Washing ones hands is the best way to stop bacteria from spreading to food.
Whatever a person does in a daily basis will come into contact with. It is very simple for germs to be passed on to other items like food and in the mouth. Washing hands is the best way to kill the germs that have been obtained.
It is important to wash ones hands and is important to do it thoroughly with soap and warm water before cooking, after touching the bin, going to the toilet, and before and after touching raw food.
NO SUCH THING AS TOO CLEAN
DON'T FORGET TO CUT THOSE NAILS
THIS IS NOT A FASHION SHOW
Hand hygiene (nails, nail polish)
Germs are all around us and we can’t escape it. Humans pick up germs from contact with other people or objects in our surroundings that cannot be changed. One of the best ways to stop the spread of germs is to keep nails short and products (nail polish) away from the hands.
Having long nails trap germs in our fingers that can be transferred on food spreading bacteria. Cutting nails short eliminates that problem and it makes washing hands easier as you no longer need to dig deep inside the nail to take out any dirt or germs trap within.
Having products like nail polish can also contaminate the food. Nail polish can be chipped away while cooking and can land on the food spreading bacteria causing food poisoning. Although gloves are available and highly advisable to be used, one can never be too safe.
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING OVER EVERYDAY CLOTHES
Wearing an apron in the kitchen is one of the best ways to protect not only yourself from getting dirty, but to also eliminate the germs on your body on to the food.
The world is filled with germs and bacteria. Clothes pick up those germs that surrounds the world and can be passed on the food being prepared and cause food poisoning. Wearing an apron acts like a barrier between the clothes and the food, keeping any bacteria away and eliminating food poisoning.
As well as a good hygiene wear, aprons also have the ability to not only keep ones clothing from spills and stains, but also from heat and fire that can burn or be felt from any normal everyday piece of clothing.
NO JEWELLERY POLICY
Jewellery and food are two things that should never go together as it poses many risks when cooking.
The main reasons watches and jewellery may not be worn around food are due to the dirt and bacteria it collects and spreads. Even if it has been thoroughly cleaned it can still pick up bacteria from raw foods and cross contaminating other ones (vegetables). Jewellery is very hard to completely clean, no matter how hard one may try as it can hide in the chain links or under precious stones.
Jewellery is also band in the food industry as there is a potential hazard of a piece of metal or gemstone falling off and into the food that’s being prepared that can give consumers chipped teeth, broken teeth and internal cuts inside the mouth.
TYING HAIR OUT OF THE FACE OR COVERING WITH A HAIR NET
Hair is a breeding ground for bacteria as it is exposed to the dirt and bacteria all the time. Dirt and other germs can fall, as well as hair strands on to the food being prepared, spreading the bacteria, causing food poisoning. Having the hair tied up or covered with a hair net put the hair up high and away from food eliminating the risk of bacteria. A hair net would also prevent and lessen the likelihood of hair falling into the food, thus contributing to the hygiene standard as the sight of a strand/s on a dish that is being eaten is never a good sight to see.
As well as hygiene, tying the hair back or wearing a hair net places the hair high up and away from machinery that can get hair caught and pulled making the workplace a safer and more hygienic environment.