Personal Hygiene Standards for Chefs and Kitchen Saffs

SOP Number: Kitchen / F&B Production SOP – 1

Department: Kitchen / Food Production - Staff Personal Hygiene

Date Issued: 08-Sep-2018

Time to Train: 30 Minutes

Purpose of Chef Personal Hygiene SOP:

Germs carried by people are one of the major sources of foodborne illness hence all restaurant employees or Chefs should maintain good personal hygiene practices to ensure food safety. 

The term Hygiene refers to conditions and practices that help to maintain health and prevent the spread of diseases, this sop outlines the standard hygiene policies and procedures which need to be followed by food and beverage production staff eg: Chefs, Food Handlers, Stewarding etc.

Kitchen Staff / Chef Personal Hygiene Standards:

• Always arrive at work cleanly with clean hair, teeth brushed and bathed daily with soap.

• Maintain short, clean, and polish-free fingernails.

• Artificial nails are not permitted for any staff in the food production area.

Chefs Policy for Smoking, eating, and gum chewing:

• All kitchen staff should smoke only in designated areas.

• In any case, No smoking or chewing tobacco is allowed in the food production facilities.

• Make sure that you Eat and drink in designated areas only.

• Always use a closed beverage container when drinking water in the F&B production area.

• Kitchen staff should refrain from chewing gum or eating candy during the food production.

How to wash hands for Kitchen Staff or Chefs?

• Washing Hands as per the hygiene standards and at the appropriate time is very important.

• The proper method to wash hands includes under fingernails and up to forearms vigorously and thoroughly with soap and warm water for a period of at least 20 to 30 seconds.

• Turn off the water faucets or tap using a paper towel in order to prevent recontamination of clean hands.

• In addition, hands must be washed at below time or scenarios:

• While entering the food & beverage production facility before your shift begins.

• Immediately before preparing food or handling equipment.

• As often as necessary during food preparation when contamination occurs.

• Always in the restroom after using the toilet, and when before you return or enter to your workstation.

• Wash hands when switching between handling or working with raw foods and working with ready-to-eat or cooked foods.

• Wash your hands after touching face, nose, hair, or any other body part, and after sneezing or coughing.

• Wash hands after you are cleaning tables, workstations, cutting board or after cleaning duties.

• Between each task performed and before wearing disposable gloves.

• Change disposable gloves as often as hand washing is required.

• Wash hands before and after discarding gloves.

• After smoking, eating, or drinking etc.

• After taking out the garbage, handling any cleaning chemicals, picking up dropped food items etc.

• Wash hands after any other unsanitary task have been performed.

• While washing hands make sure that you wash hands only in hand sinks designated for that purpose.

• Use a hand sanitiser as per the required quantity after washing the hands.

• Always dry hands with single use towels or hot air blower. 

What should be the proper attire for the Chef / Kitchen Staff?

• All kitchen staff should be wearing appropriate and proper uniforms at all times.

• Clean uniform with sleeves and clean non-skid, close-toed work shoes while on duty.

• Always wear your apron on site, as appropriate.

• Do not wear the apron too and from work.

• Always remember to take off the apron before using the restroom.

• Change apron if it becomes soiled or stained.

What are the appropriate Hair Restraints and Jewellery for Kitchen Staff or Chefs?

• Always wear a hair net or cap in any food production area that completely covers all hair.

• Keep beards and moustaches neat and trimmed.

• Beard restraints are required in any food production area.

• Refrain from wearing jewellery in the food production area.

• Only a plain wedding ring or wedding band is permitted in the Kitchen.

• No necklaces, bracelets, or dangling jewellery are permitted.

• No earrings or piercing that can be removed is permitted.

What should be the Chefs do in case any Cuts and Burns while working?

• Report or inform the supervisor or sous chef in case of any wounds. 

• If you cut a finger, the most important action is to control the bleeding by immediately applying direct pressure to the wound.

• When a burn occurs, it is most important to wash the burn with room-temperature water.

• Consult the in-house hotel doctor for first aid and further treatments.

• Bandage any cut, abrasion, or burn that has broken the skin.

• Cover bandages on hands with gloves and finger cots as appropriate before handling with food.

Training Summary questions:

Q1. What is the purpose of this SOP?

Q2. Why is personal hygiene very important for kitchen staffs?

Q3. Explain the proper method of washing hands and the importance of the same?

Q4. Provide a few example scenarios which require to wash hands before handling any food items?

Q5. Provide few examples of standard hair restraints and jewellery for kitchen staff?