2.2 Hygiene and Food Safety Policy NQS: Quality Area 2
Policy Statement The Westgarth Kindergarten environment is clean and hygienic and the kinder observes safe practices for handling, preparing and storing food. Procedures Standard precautions to prevent the spread of germs and infectious diseases •
•
•
•
Staff teach children to cover their mouths when they sneeze or cough and to use the tissues provided to blow their own noses. Used tissues are disposed of in rubbish bins and hands are washed. Children are also taught to turn away from food when they sneeze or cough. Children, staff, and visitors are reminded to wash their hands after toileting, before meal or snack times, after caring for unwell children and before handling food e.g. meal times, fruit preparation, cooking activities. Staff use the disposable gloves provided in situations where they are likely to come into contact with bodily fluids e.g. blood spills, toileting accidents. Used gloves and contaminated clothing and cleaning equipment are handled carefully. They may be disposed of in a rubbish bin, placed in a plastic bag to be cleaned later or disinfected immediately in a bucket with a lid. Refer to the Kinder’s Infectious Diseases & Immunisation Policy for more information.
Food safety practices •
•
•
Staff or visitors assisting with morning tea fruit preparation wash hands before commencing, and the fruit and vegetables are washed prior to preparation. Staff or visitors should not participate in this task if they have an illness or disease that could be transmitted through food. Reasonable actions are taken to ensure areas for eating are clean. For example: before meal and snack time, tables used for eating are wiped down and children are supported to find appropriate spaces for picnicking outside. Any food prepared at the centre is covered when not in use, kept at a safe temperature and disposed of in a timely manner.
Toileting of children • •
Children are generally encouraged to toilet themselves, although staff assist children as required. Children are taught to flush the toilets after they have finished and to make sure they wash their hands using the soap provided.
Cleaning • •
The kinder provides specific cleaning equipment that is clearly labelled for the bathrooms, the kitchen, the eating surfaces and other areas. All educators participate in cleaning the kinder each session. As well as general tidying, this includes: o Wiping the tables before and after meal times; o Washing dishes and cleaning the kitchen after food preparation or meal times; and o Cleaning the children’s toilets.
Policy 2.2 Hygiene and Food Safety - endorsed Apr 2017.doc
1
•
•
A cleaner is employed to clean the kinder several times a week. The cleaner’s responsibilities include: o Vacuuming the carpet; o Sweeping and mopping the floors; o Disinfecting the toilet area; and o Emptying the rubbish bins. Working bees are held as required each year. Volunteers at the working bees: o Clean play equipment e.g. disinfect Lego, wash building blocks, launder dolls clothes and dress ups; and o Undertake ‘spring cleaning’ tasks e.g. clean out the fridge, scrub bathroom walls, etc.
Monitoring & Evaluation ●
To assess whether the policy has achieved its purpose and whether amendments are required, the committee will: ○ Take into account feedback from staff and parents regarding the policy; ○ Monitor complaints and incidents regarding hygiene and food safety matters; and ○ Periodically review this policy.
Sources Staying Healthy in Child Care – Preventing Infectious Diseases in Childcare, National Health and Medical Research Council (Jun 2013) Links National Quality Standard – Quality Area 2, Standard 2.1 Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011, Part 4.2, Regulation 77 Authorisation Endorsed by the Westgarth Kindergarten Committee of Management on 19 April 2017. Review Date This policy will be reviewed every two years and is next due for formal Committee review in 2019, unless deemed necessary earlier.
Policy 2.2 Hygiene and Food Safety - endorsed Apr 2017.doc
2
