Why is handwashing important in the food industry?
Did you know that 80% of pathogens are spread through hands? That is a risk for food safety in your production hall. Therefore, a correct handwashing instruction in the food industry is indispensable. Fortunately, you can achieve optimal hand hygiene in just six simple steps.
The food chain begins with clean hands. Whether you work in meat processing, dairy production, or at a bakery: clean hands are the first line of defense against cross-contamination, allergens, and pathogens.
A clear and visual handwashing instruction in the food industry prevents mistakes and raises awareness. Do you want to pass audits smoothly and prevent complaints? Then this handwashing routine is your strongest weapon.
The 6 steps of the handwashing instruction for the food industry
1) Wet your hands with clean, running water.
Without water, your soap will not work as well. Always use running water of drinking water quality.
2) Take hand soap from a closed soap dispenser
Rub your entire hand for at least 30 seconds. Don't forget the areas between your fingers and under your nails. Experience shows that the wrists and fingertips are often forgotten or not lathered thoroughly enough.
3) Rub hands, fingers, and wrists thoroughly
Rub your entire hand for at least 30 seconds. Don't forget the areas between your fingers and under your nails. Experience shows that the wrists and fingertips are often forgotten or not lathered thoroughly enough.
4) Rinse all soap thoroughly with running water.
Soap residue can cause skin irritation and attract dirt.
5) Dry your hands thoroughly for at least 14 seconds.
Use a disposable towel or hand dryer. Please note: wet hands spread bacteria up to 1000 times faster than dry hands!
6) Use disinfection for maximum protection
Use hand sanitizer after washing and drying. Tip: integrate disinfection into your hygiene protocol so that no one can skip it.
Make handwashing easy for your employees
An instruction is only effective if employees actually display the behavior. Therefore, make it as simple as possible for them.
Training personal hygiene and handwashing as part of your quality policy
Personal hygiene is just as much a part of your quality management as a good cleaning plan. Training in hand washing and disinfection is essential during onboarding and fits perfectly in audits like IFS, BRC, or FSSC 22000.
Do you want to ensure that your staff learns and maintains the right habits? Ensure repetition, visual support, and behavior monitoring. This can be done easily and clearly with Brilliant Brains Bootcamp.
A good handwashing instruction prevents trouble
A clear and well-executed handwashing instruction in the food industry is vital. Not only for the health of your employees and consumers but also for your reputation as a producer. Ensure that your products, processes, and personnel are aligned.
Want to know more about handwashing and personal hygiene?
At Brilliant, we offer an extensive range of hand hygiene products, disinfectants, paper towels, trainings, and much more. Check out our full range of hand and body hygiene products here.
We're here to help you truly implement hand hygiene. Contact us for tailored advice.