Food Fact Sheet No.22
FOOD HANDLER RESPONSIBILITIES
General
The Food Safety Standard 3.2.2 Food Safety Practices and General Requirements set out specific requirements for
people who handle food. A food handler is responsible for ensuring the following are undertaken. Legal action can
be taken against both an individual food handler and a food business for any action that may compromise the
safety and / or suitability of food.
The overarching requirement for all food handlers is that - A food handler MUST take all reasonable measures not to
handle food or food contact surfaces in any way that is likely to compromise the safety and suitability of the food.
Health of Food Handlers
A food handler who is suffering or suspects they are suffering any condition including a food borne disease which
may be transmitted to another person through any food handling practices MUST:
 Advise their supervisor;
 Not engage in any food handling;
 If continuing to work in the food business in an area not involved with food, do everything possible to prevent
food being contaminated as a result of the disease ie: wear a mask;
 Advise a supervisor if they know or suspect they may have contaminated food.
Hygiene of Food Handlers
When engaging in food handling operations, a food handler MUST:
 Take all practicable measures to ensure their body, anything from their body or anything they are wearing does
not contaminate food or food contact surfaces;
 Take all practicable measures to prevent unnecessary contact with ready-to-eat food;
 Wear clean clothing and / or aprons;
 Only use on exposed parts of their body bandages and dressings that are completely covered with a waterproof
dressing;
 Not eat, sneeze, cough or blow over unprotected food or food contact surfaces;
 Not spit, smoke, use tobacco or similar preparations in areas in which food is handled;
 Not urinate or defecate except in a toilet;
 Wash their hands whenever they are likely to be a source of contamination to food, between changes of tasks,
immediately after using the toilet, before commencing or recommencing work, immediately after smoking,
coughing, sneezing, blowing their nose, eating, drinking or touching any hair, scalp or a body opening;
 Only wash their hands at the hand washing facilities provided by thoroughly cleaning using soap and warm
water and drying with single use towel.
Main Points – Food Handler Responsibilities
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A food handler MUST take all reasonable measures not to handle food or food contact surfaces in any way that is
likely to compromise the safety and suitability of the food.
A food handler who is suffering or suspects they are suffering any condition including a food borne disease which
may be transmitted to another person through any food handling practices MUST advise their supervisor and not
engage in any food handling practices.
When engaging in food handling operations, a food handler MUST NOT eat, sneeze, cough or blow over
unprotected food or food contact surfaces.
When engaging in food handling operations, a food handler MUST NOT spit or smoke in areas where food is
handled.
Staff Sickness Log
Date
Staff Name
Illness
Date Sick
Date
Returned
Excluded From Food
Handling Duties
Staff Sickness Log
Date
Staff Name
Illness
Date Sick
Date
Returned
Excluded From Food
Handling Duties