Handwashing Sinks-Location & Placement--Public Health Reasons

Revisions to the Public Health Reasons for Section 5-204.11, Location and Placement of Handwashing Sinks.

Public Health Significance

The existing language in the Public Health Reasons for Section 5-204.11, Location and Placement of Handwashing Sinks, offers a statement that too strongly suggests that handwashing sinks be located everywhere there is a food worker.  The language in the Public Health Reasons indicates that the handwashing sinks be in a food worker's "immediate work area".  Handwashing sinks should be used when a food worker's hands become contaminated.  The handwashing sinks must be available to food employees who are working in food preparation, food dispensing, and warewashing areas.  A handwashing sink that is located between these areas may be acceptable as could a centrally located handwashing sink in a small kitchen where all of these activities occur within steps of each other.

Recommended Solution: The Conference recommends...

Section 5-204.11, Handwashing sinks, Location and Placement in Annex 3 Public Health Reasons/Administrative Guidelines in the Food Code be changed to:

5-204.11   Handwashing Sink.*

Hands are probably the most common vehicle for the transmission of pathogens to foods in an establishment. Hands can become soiled with a variety of contaminants during routine operations.  Some employees are unlikely to wash their hands unless properly equipped handwashing facilities are accessible in the immediate work area.   Employees must have access to handwashing sinks conveniently accessible from all food employee work areas and use them after any activity which may result in contamination of the hands. Handwashing sinks which are improperly located may be blocked by portable equipment or stacked full of soiled utensils and other items, rendering the sink unavailable for regular employee use. Nothing must block the approach to a handwashing sink thereby discouraging its use, and the sink must be kept clean and well stocked with soap and sanitary towels to encourage frequent use.

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