COVID-19 creating a stir — the importance of hygiene and safety for restaurants and cafés

Whilst the exit strategy out of the COVID-19 pandemic is being paved, Restaurants and Cafés will start to re-open across the country, with some form of normality emerging. Of the many facets and challenges the pandemic has brought upon everyday life, it has for one, reiterated the significance of safety and hygiene in the workplace. For restaurants and cafés, there has never been a more important time to focus on health and safety of workers and abide by strict standards to assist not only all staff but also the public.

Safe food handling as well as personal hygiene is critical. Practising good personal hygiene such as correct sneezing and coughing etiquette and regular and thorough hand washing will help to maintain the most hygienic workplace and kitchen. Food handlers are expected to wash their hands with warm soapy water for a minimum of 20 seconds whenever their hands are likely to contaminate food. Staff are to report any illness and to not work with food if unwell.

Safety meetings and training sessions assist managers to educate their staff on workplace and kitchen hazards, hygiene standards and safe food handling. Providing information and discussing specific safety topics helps to create a safety culture and safe work space.

The recently released Restaurant & Café Guide to Managing Workplace & Food Safety 2020/21 by Pro-Visual Publishing in conjunction with Restaurant & Catering Australia (RCA) and the NSCA Foundation provides further information on essential WHS topics for Restaurants and Cafés.

The guide is a 1m x 1m poster used as an everyday reference on site as well as a resource for safety meetings, staff training and education. To assist with engagement, the Guide has Augmented Reality (AR) capabilities. By simply downloading the free Pro-Vis AR app and scanning any AR capable content using a smart device, users can access additional resources including animations and informative PDF files.

For further information, or to obtain additional copies of the Guide, please call (02) 8272 2611, email marketing@provisual.com.au or visit www.provisual.com.au

For media enquiries or images please contact Deanna Davenport at Pro-Visual Publishing on (02) 8272 2611 or ddavenport@provisual.com.au

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