Management priorities are again evident as beverage dispensing overtakes handwashing convenience.
Does the use of a Food Code compliant alcohol hand sanitizer replace a handwash or a non-handwash?
Handwashing with soap and warm water is always the preferred choice but handwashing is often restricted by the food worker’s access to running water. This is particularly true where Ready-To-Eat foods are served at drive-up windows, on street corners, at sporting events, in airport hallways and at outdoor seating venues. The use of these sanitizers […]
Does installing auxiliary No-water Handwashing Stations make sense for some locations?
In this practice an alcohol based hand sanitizer dispenser is installed alongside a paper towel dispenser and a waste container. The sanitizer is generously dispensed and rubbed vigorously in a pattern set out in Handwashing For Life’s Core Handwash and demonstrated in the Why/When/How video. While still wet, vigorously dry the hands with a single-use […]
Nailbrush: Food Safety’s Friend or Foe?
Fecal-hand-oral is the most frequent pathway for the #1 cause of foodborne illness – norovirus. We also know that the nail area is frequently missed when handwashing. The use of a nailbrush dramatically enhances contaminant removal during handwashing. One common execution in the well-intending professional kitchen is to tether a nailbrush and store it in […]
How to calculate the ROI for a hep A vaccination program amongst foodservice workers.
Vaccination of the foodservice workforce eliminates only 1% of foodborne illness but an estimated 15% of legal cases. The payback of the vaccination program is not only in avoiding litigation when an outbreak occurs but also in the costs of the gamma globulin shots for the exposed customer base. Clark County, Las Vegas, continues expanding […]
Water Temperature: Comfort drives compliance.
Today’s quality handsoaps are like the “cold water” laundry products. They are very effective at low wash temperatures, thus protecting our epidermal fabric, the skin. User comfort, guides and encourages frequent handwashing. Some operators and regulators encourage, even demand, handwashing at the top of the comfort range, 110°F. A temperature range of 85-105°F, matched with […]
MarlerClark puts “Handwashing On Trial”
A duel between MarlerClark lawyers was a feature at NEHA’s 2007 annual education conference (National Environmental Health Association). The session title was “Handwashing On Trial”. CasuaLee’s restaurant suffered an outbreak linking back to poor hand hygiene. Plaintiff David Ludwig was represented by Drew Falkenstein and the defense was led by Denis Stearns, defending the owner […]
Kitchens from Hell—A study in what not to do.
This collection is designed as a reminder that good intentions can pave the way to hell’s handsinks. We are confident that acts of maliciousness were not involved in the original installation design and execution. No kitchen designer knowledgeable about food safety would have specified what you are about to see. Some of these hand sinks […]
Setting the Safe Level Standard for Handwashing Frequency
Background: Operators and regulators agree that current foodservice handwashing rates are low, perhaps half of what they should be. Agreement on a Safe Level is far more elusive. Variables in menu, staff training & turnover, process control, physical design/equipment, the vulnerability of the people served and finally the tolerance for risk of the operator himself […]
How does Norovirus take hold?
Norovirus is a very contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. Anyone can get infected and sick with norovirus. You can get norovirus from: Having direct contact with an infected person Consuming contaminated food or water Touching contaminated surfaces then putting your unwashed hands in your mouth Read More on CDC »
