Personal Hygiene

For the food worker, the first step in preventing foodborne disease is good personal hygiene. Even when we are healthy, we have bacteria all over our skin and in our nose and mouth. Some of these bacteria, if given the chance to grow in food, will make people ill. The following are steps to practicing good personal hygiene:

1. Do not work with food if you have any communicable disease or infection.
2. Bathe or shower daily.
3. Wear clean uniforms and aprons.
4. Keep hair neat and clean. Always wear a hat or hairnet. Hair longer than shoulder length must first be tied back and then secured under a net or hat.
5. Keep mustaches and beards trimmed and clean. Better yet, be clean-shaven.
6. Remove all jewelry: rings, low-hanging earrings, watches, bracelets. Avoid facial piercings; if you have them, don’t touch them.
7. Wash hands and exposed parts of arms before work and as often as necessary during work, including:
   • After eating, drinking, or smoking.
   • After using the toilet.
   • After touching or handling anything that may be contaminated with bacteria.
8. Cover coughs and sneezes, then wash your hands.
9. Keep your hands away from your face, eyes, hair, and arms.
10. Keep fingernails clean and short. Do not wear nail polish.
11. Do not smoke or chew gum while on duty.
12. Cover cuts or sores with clean bandages. If the sore is on the hands, you must wear gloves.
13. Do not sit on worktables.