How can food service workers prevent employee illness?

Maintaining good personal hygiene is a fundamental practice for food service workers in preventing employee illness. Personal hygiene includes actions like washing hands frequently and properly, especially before handling food or after using the restroom. Ensuring clean uniforms, managing hair appropriately, and maintaining overall cleanliness are vital components that help minimize the risk of spreading germs and pathogens that can lead to foodborne illnesses or other contagious diseases among staff.

While serving only fresh food, providing regular training, and rotating food stock regularly are essential practices in food safety, they primarily focus on maintaining food quality and safety rather than directly addressing the health and hygiene of the employees themselves. Personal hygiene is an immediate action that workers can control to prevent the transmission of illnesses in the workplace.