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Sanitary Facilities and Worker Hygiene
Workers should use good hygienic practices.
To prevent contamination during cider processing, workers should maintain a high degree of cleanliness appropriate for a food processing operation.
Establish a training program to teach workers good hygiene practices. All new workers should understand the importance of proper handwashing practices and general sanitation concerns.
All persons working in the processing area must wear clean outer garments while on duty. Hands must be thoroughly washed with clean, warm water and soap before starting work, after each absence from the working area, between operations, and at any other times the hands have become soiled. Common or shared towels should be not be used.
All jewelry, except wedding bands, should be removed. Hair restraints (hairnets, headbands, caps, etc.) must be worn. If gloves are used, they must be designed for food handling operations. The use of gloves does not exempt workers from using good hygiene practices. Whenever an individual changes from a food-contact or cleaning operation to a nonfood-contact operation, the person must replace gloves or thoroughly wash hands before resuming food-contact operations.
Tobacco use of any kind is prohibited in rooms where food or food ingredients are processed, handled, or stored.
Supervisors and workers should be aware of the presence of symptoms of infectious diseases or of skin boils, sores, infected wounds, or other abnormal sources of microbial contamination so that if symptoms are evident, the supervisor can take appropriate steps.
Any worker who has diarrhea or is a carrier of a communicable disease that can be transmitted by food should not be allowed to work in cider processing areas.
Each cider processor should provide its employees with adequate, readily accessible toilet facilities.
Toilet facilities should be completely enclosed and conveniently located near the work area. Hot and cold running water and soap must be provided in the lavatory for hand washing. Disposable towels and covered trash containers also must be provided. A sign reminding employees to wash their hands before returning to work should be posted in the lavatory.
All wastewater must be drained properly into the sewer or a septic system separate from the toilet system.
Consult your local or state health department about the proper disposal facility to be used.