The Benefits Of A Food Safety Supervisor Course

Food safety is the prime concern of any business that deals with its handling and retail. When it comes to teaching the people responsible for these activities, to whom does this responsibility fall? It falls to the supervisor. The food safety supervisor course gets the student ready to meet this challenge.

What should a good food safety supervisor course involve? The short answer is: everything necessary to provide skills and knowledge of food safety for the work that needs to be done. While one who serves food needs only have the skills and knowledge related to the handling and serving of food, the supervisor is required to know those same details as well as how to teach them properly to others. A miscommunication in safe food handling could lead to disaster that is entirely preventable with the correct training. A food safety supervisor should be available during the establishment's operating hours, be capable of supervising the food handling practices, and have the authority for such supervision and giving of instructions to the food handlers.

What are the responsibilities that a food safety supervisor course should teach? A food safety supervisor should have, at the very least, clear and concise operating procedures detailing who is responsible for what along with documentation that is kept up-to-date and readily available for reference. The supervisor should also:

ñ Set an example for others by following the procedures for proper hygiene by the frequent washing of hands.
ñ Use paper towels instead of cloth towels to dry one's hands after washing, especially when raw meat and poultry juices are involved; illness-creating bacteria can survive and thrive upon the cloth fibers.
ñ Recognise hygiene hazards, such as putting one's bare hand on a doorknob just after washing or not covering one's mouth and nose while sneezing.
ñ Report any personal health issues (i.e. sickness) that may present a health hazard around food preparation areas.
ñ Prevent food and preparation implement contamination via regular cleaning, sanitisation and protective equipment (e.g. hairnets).
ñ Ensure that safe, single-use items (e.g. gloves, dining implements) are in ready supply.
ñ Check upon the receipt of potentially hazardous foods that they are delivered at the appropriate temperatures.
ñ Demonstrate how to prepare food safely.
ñ Demonstrate how to store food safely using containers that are sealed against contamination.
ñ Demonstrate how to dispose of food safely by correctly identifying waste and separating it from other food items.
ñ Supervise food out in the open that comes in contact with customers (such as a buffet).
ñ Have timely recall protocols in place should such become necessary.

A food safety supervisor course will also teach food handler supervisors about the HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) system, a risk management methodology used by food and food-related industries to manage food safety hazards down to acceptable risk levels. The HACCP system is based upon the following seven principles:

1. Conduct a hazard analysis
2. Determine the Critical Control Points (CCPs).
3. Establish critical limit(s).
4. Establish a system to monitor control of the CCP.
5. Establish the corrective action to be taken when monitoring indicates that a particular CCP is not under control.
6. Establish procedures for verification to confirm that the HACCP system is working effectively.
7. Establish documentation concerning all procedures and records appropriate to these principles and their application.

During hazard identification, evaluation, and subsequent procedures in the design and application of a HACCP system, one must consider the impact of raw materials and ingredients, food manufacturing practices, hazard control within the manufacturing processes themselves, the likely end-use of products, any categories of consumers of concern, and epidemiological evidence relative to food safety. A good food safety supervisor course will teach all this and more.

Food safety is serious business and the food safety supervisor's role is a vital part of safe business practices. A good food safety supervisor course will benefit everyone down the line, from the supervisor who takes the course to the appreciative customers who leave the establishment satisfied with their experience.

By: Nick P.

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Do you need a food safety supervisor course? Our food safety courses provide the skills and knowledge you need when working in the food service industry. With a variety of delivery options that include online and correspondence courses, obtaining food service certification from us is convenient and affordable.