Failure to Enforce Hair Restraint and Facial Covering Use in Food Service Areas
Penalty
Summary
The facility failed to ensure that food service staff adhered to professional standards for food safety by not requiring the use of appropriate hair restraints and facial coverings in the kitchen. Observations revealed that Dishwasher A, who had facial hair above his upper lip and on his chin, was not wearing a facial covering while serving food and washing dishes. Additionally, Dishwasher A was not wearing a hairnet or facial covering while in the dishwashing area, despite having been educated on the requirement to wear these items when serving food. Another staff member, [NAME] B, was observed preparing food without a facial covering to cover his facial hair. Both staff members acknowledged the importance of wearing hairnets and facial coverings to prevent hair from contaminating residents' food, but failed to comply with these requirements during the observed periods. Interviews with various staff, including the Assistant Dietary Manager and Interim Administrator, confirmed that all individuals entering the kitchen, including the dishwashing area, were expected to wear hairnets and facial coverings if they had facial hair. The facility's policy, revised in November 2022, also required food and nutrition services staff to wear hair restraints to prevent hair from contacting food. The lack of a current Dietary Manager and recent staffing changes were noted, but staff were aware of the facility's expectations regarding food safety practices. No specific residents were identified as being directly affected in the report.