Food Handler Training
A food business must ensure that persons undertaking or supervising food handling operations have the following skills and knowledge that are commensurate with their work activities:
- Skills in food safety and food hygiene matters, and
- Knowledge of food safety and food hygiene matters.
There are several ways to achieve the skills and knowledge component of these standards. The skills can be developed on the job, while the knowledge is best gained by attendance at a Food Handler training course. Registered Training Organisations can be found in the Yellow Pages.
Food handlers who have successfully completed the food handling training courses are supplied with a certificate of attainment that are provided by the training providers they attended, not Townsville City Council.
The above clause does not apply to food business in relation to persons undertaking food handling operations for fundraising events, that is, events:
- that raise funds solely for community or charitable causes and not for personal financial gain, and
- at which only food is sold that is not potentially hazardous or which is to be consumed immediately after thorough cooking.
Food Safety Standards 3.2.2 Division 2, section 3
Food Safety Supervisors
From 22 February 2008 all licensed food businesses will be required to nominate a Food Safety Supervisor (FSS). Anyone, including the business owner, licence holder, employees, or an external contractor can be a FSS provided they meet the required competencies and are reasonably available at all times the business is operating.
A FSS is required to take a lead role in supervising food safety in your food business. Apart from holding the required competencies, they must also:
- Have the ability to supervise food handling practices in the food business,
- Be reasonably available at all times the food business is operating, and
- Have the authority to supervise and give instructions to food handlers.
All new licensable food businesses will be required to notify Council's Environmental Health Services of their FSS details (this is to be within 30 days of the food licence being issued). You must also notify Environmental Health Services of any changes to your FSS, or their contact details within 14 days of the change.
Existing food businesses (in operation before 22 February) will have until 1 July 2008 to nominate their FSS. This will allow sufficient time for food businesses to have the nominated staff member appropriately trained.
Factsheets
Further Information
If you have any further questions regarding Food Safety Supervisors please contact Environmental Health Services.