What should workers do when they have long hair while working in food preparation areas?

Wearing a hairnet or tying hair back is essential in food preparation areas to maintain hygiene and prevent contamination. Long hair can easily fall into food or come into contact with surfaces and equipment, increasing the risk of foodborne illnesses. By securing long hair properly, it reduces the likelihood of hair becoming a physical contaminant in the food.

The other options do not ensure adequate safety and hygiene; leaving hair down exposes food to potential contamination, while cutting hair short may not be practical or desired by all workers. Wearing a hat, while it can help, does not guarantee that hair will be fully contained, which is why a hairnet or tying it back is the preferred and effective method of maintaining cleanliness in food service environments.