Personal Hygiene and Safe Handling

This module is specific to Basic Food Safety Awareness and should be read carefully before continuing.

• Hands must be washed before starting work, after using the toilet, after handling raw food, after cleaning, and after touching waste.
• Clean protective clothing helps prevent contamination from personal clothes and outside environments.
• Hair should be controlled using hairnets, caps, or approved restraints depending on the workplace policy.
• Food handlers should avoid jewellery, watches, artificial nails, and strong perfumes where these may contaminate food.
• Cuts and wounds should be covered with a waterproof, brightly coloured dressing.
• Food handlers with vomiting, diarrhoea, fever, infected wounds, or other symptoms must report to management.
• Gloves do not replace handwashing and must be changed when contaminated or damaged.
• Ready-to-eat foods require extra care because they may not receive further cooking before service.
• Food should be covered, labelled, and protected from contamination during preparation and storage.
• Safe handling depends on discipline during busy periods, not only during inspections or training.