Section 25-A800. PREVENTING CONTAMINATION BY EMPLOYEES - FROM HANDS

 

800.1Food employees shall wash their hands as specified in § 401.

 

800.2Except when washing fruits and vegetables as specified in § 806 or as specified in § 800.4 food employees shall not contact exposed, ready to eat food with their bare hands and shall use suitable utensils such as deli tissue, spatulas, tongs, single-use gloves or dispensing equipment. P 

 

800.3Food employees shall minimize bare hand and arm contact with exposed food that is not in a ready-to-eat form. Pf

 

800.4Food employees not serving a highly susceptible population may contact exposed, ready-to-eat food with their bare hands if:

 

(a)The licensee obtains prior approval from the Department; and

 

(b)Written policies and procedures are maintained in the food establishment  and are readily available at all times for use by employees and for the  Department’s review upon request. The written policies and procedures  shall include:

 

(1)For each bare hand contact procedure, listings of the specific  ready-to-eat foods that are touched by bare hands;

 

(2)Diagrams and other information showing that handwashing  facilities, installed, located, equipped, and maintained as specified  in §§ 2406, 2411, 2414, 3001, 3002, and 3004, are in an easily  accessible location and in close proximity to the work station  where the bare hand contact procedure is conducted;

 

(3)A written employee health policy that details how the food  establishment complies with Chapter 3, including:

 

(A)Documentation that food employees and conditional  employees acknowledge that they are informed to report  information about their health and activities as they relate  to gastrointestinal symptoms and diseases that are  transmittable through food as specified in §§ 300.1 through  300.7;

 

(B)Documentation that food employees and conditional  employees acknowledge their responsibilities as specified  in § 304; and

 

(C)Documentation that the person in charge acknowledges  their responsibilities as specified in §§ 301, 302, 303, 305,  306, and 307;

 

(4)Documentation that food employees acknowledge that they have  received training in:

 

(A)The risks of contacting the specific ready-to-eat foods with  bare hands;

 

(B)Proper handwashing as specified in § 401;  

 

(C)When to wash their hands as specified in § 402;

 

(D)Where to wash their hands as specified in § 404;

 

(E)Proper fingernail maintenance as specified in § 405;

 

(F)Prohibition of jewelry as specified in § 406; and

 

(G)Good hygienic practices as specified in §§ 500 through  504;

 

(5)Documentation that hands are washed before food preparation and  as necessary to prevent cross contamination by food employees as  specified in §§ 400, 401, 403, and 404 during all hours of  operation when the specific ready-to-eat foods are prepared;

 

(6)Documentation that food employees contacting ready-to-eat food  with bare hands use two (2) or more of the following control  measures to provide additional safeguards to hazards associated  with bare hand contact:

 

(A)Double handwashing;

 

(B)A hand antiseptic after handwashing as specified in § 405;

 

(C)Incentive programs such as paid sick leave that assist or  encourage food employees not to work when they are ill; or

 

(D)Other control measures approved by the Department; and

 

(7)Documentation that corrective action is taken when the requirements of § 800.4(a) and (b) are not followed.

 

authority

Sections 4 and 10 of An Act Relating to the adulteration of foods and drugs in the District of Columbia, approved February 17, 1898 (30 Stat. 246: D.C. Official Code §§ 48-104 and 48-110 (2009 Repl.)); Section 7 of An Act Making Appropriations to provide for the expenses for the government of the District of Columbia for the fiscal year ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred and three, and for other purposes (32 Stat.627: D.C. Official Code § 47-2834(a)(1), (a)(2), and (b) (2005 Repl.)); and Mayor’s Order 2002-103, dated June 18, 2002 and Mayor’s Order 98-139, dated August 20, 1998.

source

Final Rulemaking published at 50 DCR 4394 (June 6, 2003), incorporating by reference the text of Proposed Rulemaking published at 49 DCR 6184, 6231-33 (July 5, 2002); as amended by Final Rulemaking published at 59 DCR 13690 (November 30, 2012).