H&L Transport Managerial Control Manual March 2014 | Page 39

MANAGERIAL CONTROL MANUAL Prevent foodborne illness by ensuring that all foods are handled in a sanitary manner. Good, frequent hand washing is the best way to prevent the spread of many common diseases. Hand washing removes visible dirt from hands and helps loosen and reduce the number of harmful microbes (germs). Harmful bacteria and viruses can be carried by people and transferred to food. Wash hands before preparing or eating food. It is also a crucial step after using the washroom or changing a diaper. The fecal-oral route is a common way of spreading microbes from person to person. Fecal-oral means contaminated feces (stool) from an infected person is passed to another person and swallowed. HAND WASHING STEPS Soap doesn't kill the microbes found on hands. The action of rubbing the hands together with soap and water and rinsing loosens the microbes so they slide off the hands in the running water. Research has shown the temperature of the water doesn’t matter for effective hand washing. If using bar soap, use a soap rack so it drains. Ring wearing may cause a slight decrease in the efficacy of hand washing.  Use a sink designated for hand washing.  Use liquid soap or bar soap.  Lather soap and rub hands together palm to palm, rub between the fingers, the back of each hand using the palm of the other hand, rub fingertips on palms to clean under fingernails, rub each thumb with the opposite hand, and rub each wrist with the opposite hand. This should take at least 30 s econds. Use nail brush.  Rinse hands under running water for at least 10 seconds.  Dry hands completely with a paper towel or hot air.  Use the paper towel to turn off the water taps and discard the paper towel. ANTIBACTERIAL SOAPS Antibacterial soaps are not necessary in the household. Regular soap and good hand washing techniques are adequate for use in the home. There is little evidence to suggest that antibacterial soaps reduce infections in the home. Some research suggests that antibacterial soaps may lead to the emergence of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. 37