Infection Control.pdf - Bolton LEA Website

5 Food HandlersWhen school meals staff contract certain communicable diseases or developseptic lesions on the exposed skin there may be a risk of food contamination.Food handlers are reminded of their statutory obligations under the Food Safety(General Food Hygiene) Regulations 1995 to notify the food business proprietorimmediately if they are suffering from any of the following diseases:• Typhoid Fever• Paratyphoid Fever• Other Salmonella infections• Staphylococcal infections likely to cause food poisoning e.g. impetigo,septic skin lesions, exposed infected wounds, boils etc.• Dysentery• Diarrhoea - the cause of which has not been established• Hepatitis A (infective jaundice)• E.coli O157The catering manager must not permit a person known or suspected to besuffering from any of the above diseases, to work in any food handling area inany capacity in which there is any likelihood of directly or indirectly contaminatingfood with pathogenic micro-organisms.Ideally the catering manager should also notify the Environmental Health Team.Any food handler who develops symptoms of diarrhoea or other symptomsassociated with the above diseases should not return to work in any capacity in afood handling area (as above mentioned) until he/she has been symptom freefor at least 48 hours. This advice also applies to children who may be involvedin the handling and preparation of food to be consumed at school or at home.The manager of the food handler who is ill should contact the Head Teacher todiscuss exclusion of the member of staff and arrange cover for the duration ofabsence.The Environmental Health Team carry out the investigation and management ofindividuals with typhoid and paratyphoid fever and E.coli O157 infection. TheConsultant in Communicable Disease Control (CCDC) as the Proper Officer ofthe Local Authority may require that food handlers remain off work for longerthan the 48 hours symptom free period referred to above.CDC Guidelines for Schools - Final - May 2005.doc Page 10 of 62