Your responsibilities as a food handler

You can pass on germs when you handle food. To prevent this you must:

Wash your hands thoroughly using warm water and soap

after using the toilet, at home and at work
before starting work, and after breaks
after handling raw food
after handling rubbish

and dry your hands after you have washed them.

Tell your boss if you:

have been sick (vomiting)
have diarrhoea
have infected (red, swollen, pus-containing) sores or cuts
feel unwell
were ill while on holiday
if anyone in your household is sick or has diarrhoea

If you have sickness or diarrhoea it may be caused by a germ; you MUST not handle food until you are better.

Typhoid and paratyphoid

Typhoid and paratyphoid fever are rare but serious illnesses. You must tell your boss if you think you have been in contact with either of these diseases.

Your checklist for good hygiene practice

Wash your hands thoroughly after going to the toilet and before handling food.
Do not handle food if you are suffering from diarrhoea and/or vomiting.
Tell your boss if you or anyone in your household is ill.
Use bright coloured waterproof coverings for cuts and grazes.
Do not spit, smoke, eat or chew gum when you are handling food.
Make sure your work clothes are clean.
Keep your workplace, especially surfaces and utensils, clean
Tell your boss if you were ill while on holiday.
If you have to visit the doctor, remember to say you are a food handler.