Improper Use of Hair Restraints by Dietary Manager During Food Preparation
Penalty
Summary
During a kitchen observation, the Dietary Manager (DM) was seen wearing a hair restraint that only partially covered her hair, specifically covering her ponytail but not the rest of her head, while preparing meals. The DM acknowledged that her expectation was for all staff to wear hair restraints in the kitchen and recognized the importance of fully covering hair to prevent contamination. She admitted that her hair restraint was too small to cover her entire head and ponytail, but did not have a proper restraint in place at the time of the observation. Interviews with the DM, the Director of Nursing (DON), and the Administrator confirmed that the facility's expectation is for all kitchen staff to have their hair fully covered by a hairnet or hat to prevent hair from falling into food. The facility's policy and the FDA Food Code both require effective hair restraints to prevent hair from contacting exposed food and clean equipment. The deficiency was identified during a review of the kitchen's sanitation practices, specifically regarding the improper use of hair restraints by the DM during food preparation.