Grooming and Personal Hygiene

Date Revised: July 23, 2019
Issued By: Patti Barnes
Approved By: Gwyn Scott

Purpose

This work rule has been developed to ensure that all employees understand the importance of appropriate grooming and hygiene in the workplace. The standards of grooming and hygiene outlined below set forth the minimum requirement to which all employees are required to adhere. Each person working in the food service industry must maintain a high degree of cleanliness and a tidy external appearance. Personal hygiene is extremely important to maintain food health/safety standards. OHIO University Culinary Services recognizes that the presentation of its employees in the workplace contributes to a professional, safe and sanitary environment that contributes to the success of our organization. 

The following standards are to be followed and enforced:

Personal Hygiene

Employees must maintain a clean body and clean hair. Clothing must be clean, in good repair and cover the body properly. Wearing socks is a requirement in the food industry. Nails must be trimmed and cleaned. Proper handwashing and gloving techniques must be followed at all times. Injuries (i.e. cuts and wounds) must be properly protected and covered. If an employee is experiencing vomiting or diarrhea they are not permitted to work. Aprons must be removed when leaving the production areas. Staff are not permitted to consume food in a food production area or adjacent areas. The only exception would be sampling to test the quality of the product being prepared at the time. Proper hand washing and changing of gloves would need to be followed when testing product.

Hair Restraints

Food service employees shall wear hair restraints such as hats, hair coverings or nets in food production areas, serving areas, dish rooms and pots and pans area to effectively keep hair from contacting exposed food and cleaned and sanitized food serving dishes, pots, pans and small wares. Hair that touches the shoulders must be tied back before tucking it neatly under the hair restraint.  Hair must be restrained to the point where it cannot fall in the employee’s face.  The hair restraint must cover as much hair as possible, including all bangs. Any person(s) that enter a production areas must wear a hair restraint. Culinary Services will use the Ohio Food Code 3717-1-02.3C stated above for all other instances not specified.

Facial Hair

In venues where beards are permitted, the beard must be neatly trimmed to the face to no more than 1 inch long. Beards must be covered by a beard hair restraint (Ohio Food Code Policy 3717-1-02.3C). If employee does not have a beard, the employee must be clean shaven at all times. If an employee chooses to grow a beard, a beard net must be worn from the beginning of new growth on. Beard nets are not required during breaks and lunches when taken outside the food production areas. Mustaches must be short and neatly groomed to the edge of the mouth. If an employee has sideburns, they must be trimmed close to the skin. Employees working in the Central Support Kitchen (includes Vegetable Prep) and Bakery are not permitted to have a beard. The employee may choose to have a mustache that is short and neatly groomed to the edge of the mouth. Employees that have not secured a full-time permanent position through Article 14 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement are not permitted to have a beard as they could be assigned to The Central Support Kitchen located in the Central Food Facility (i.e. Food Service Workers, Part-time Custodial Workers).

Jewelry and Piercings 

As stated in the Safety Work Rules, jewelry is limited to a plain band ring, a medical alert bracelet, small hooped or small post earrings and a watch or fit bit. No other jewelry will be permitted to be worn. Employees working in the Central Support Kitchen are limited to only a plain band and a medical alert bracelet. No other jewelry will be permitted to be worn in the Central Support Production areas.
Facial piercings are limited to one per face at managements’ discretion. Only a small hoop or stud piercing will be considered. Refer to Culinary Services Safety Work Rules (#8).

Additional Notes

Religious commitments pertaining to this work rule will be accommodated upon written request substantiating the need for exception.  A document of faith may be requested.

Interpretation of the Grooming and Personal Hygiene work rule will be at Management’s discretion.