Personal Hygiene Standards Flashcards

According to BC FOODSAFE, when must food handlers wash their hands?

Answer: Before handling food, after using the washroom, after handling raw food, after touching hair or face, and after any potential contamination

BC FOODSAFE requires handwashing at multiple critical points: before starting work, before handling food, after washroom use, after touching raw foods, after sneezing/coughing, after handling garbage, and after any contamination event.

What is the minimum time recommended for proper handwashing under BC FOODSAFE guidelines?

Answer: 20 seconds

BC FOODSAFE recommends washing hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds, including scrubbing between fingers, under nails, and up to the wrists, followed by thorough rinsing and drying.

Why should food handlers avoid wearing jewellery such as rings and bracelets while working?

Answer: Jewellery can harbour bacteria, fall into food, and make proper handwashing difficult

Jewellery can trap food particles and bacteria underneath, making thorough handwashing difficult. It can also fall into food, creating a physical hazard. A plain wedding band is typically the only exception.

A food handler has an infected cut on their finger. What is the correct procedure?

Answer: Cover the wound with a waterproof bandage and wear a disposable glove over it

Infected wounds harbour Staphylococcus aureus and other pathogens. The wound must be covered with a waterproof bandage (preferably brightly coloured for visibility) and a disposable glove worn over it to prevent contamination.

What type of soap should be used at handwashing stations in a food premise?

Answer: Liquid soap from a closed dispenser

Liquid soap from a closed dispenser is required because bar soap can harbour bacteria on its surface and be shared among users. Dish detergent is not formulated for skin, and hand sanitizer alone is not a substitute for handwashing.

Under BC FOODSAFE, food handlers should use hand sanitizer:

Answer: As an additional step after proper handwashing when extra precaution is needed

Hand sanitizer is used as a supplement to, not a replacement for, proper handwashing. It provides an additional layer of protection but cannot remove physical dirt, grease, or all types of pathogens that soap and water address.