Food Hygiene Regulations 25.07.2014 | Page 2

Toilets and Hand-washing Facilities • Depending on the number of employees you have, you must have an adequate number of toilets with flush water and a good drainage system. • The doors of your toilets should not open directly in the rooms where you cook or store food. There must be some kind of a hallway between the two rooms. • You must have enough washbasins, depending on the number of employees again, just for washing hands. They have to be equipped with soap, hot and cold water and other kinds of hand-sanitising materials. You should also have appropriate hand-drying materials. Washbasins used for washing hands, shouldn't be used for other purposes, and shouldn't be too close to cooking areas. • You must have another sink for washing food only. Ventilation • You place must have proper ventilation at first place. Whether it will be natural ventilation or a mechanical one, it should exist, and it should be effective. • If you have a mechanical ventilation system, it should be big enough to allow technicians access it and clean it, or change its filters. • Toilets should also have effective ventilation. And again, it can be either mechanical or natural. Other Requirements • Lightning - it is very important to have enough lightning in your premises. It doesn't matter if it is artificial or natural, it should exist and it should be strong enough. If you don't have enough light in your kitchen, accidents are very likely to happen, so that is not acceptable. • Your drainage facilities must be really good and adequately build according to the purpose they have. Otherwise, you will risk contaminating your food. • You must have a proper changing room for your employees. • You should store your cleaning supplies away from the rooms where food is handled. To be honest, if I were a restaurant owner, I wouldn't even keep cleaning detergents in my premises, but would hire some kitchen and restaurant cleaning company, which to maintain and clean my property. Such companies use only eco-friendly detergents and always carry them with them. You don't have to store anything in the place. Of course, some basic sanitising products are needed during the work day and you must be equipped with them, but they should stay away from the food.