Infractions You May Not Even Think About Can Lower Your Grade
Running a restaurant is challenging work. If you and your employees aren’t properly trained, minor health & safety rules may start falling through the cracks. When working in a fast-paced environment, it’s easy to fall back into patterns of carelessness. While it might not seem like a big deal at the time to violate a very minor health & safety rule, it’s easy for little violations to build up. If the violations build to a certain amount, you are pretty much guaranteeing losing your “A” grade until your next inspection. These are the top 5 minor infractions that could end up costing you your “A”:
1. Food is not in good condition or safely stored.
Are you making sure that all food is stored a safe distance away from cleaning supplies? It might not seem like a big deal at the time to have a sealed container of food next to a bottle of bleach. I mean, it’s not like you’re mixing the two together, right? But this is a practice that will surely get you docked a few points during your next inspection.
2. Adequate hand-washing facilities are not supplied or not accessible.
No one likes refilling a paper towel dispenser. It’s a chore. It’s also something that your restaurant should get in the habit of doing. If a health inspector came by and saw a lack of paper towels, that would be a ding against you. It’s easier to simply get in the habit of knowing when more towels are needed.
3. Toxic substances are not properly used, identified, or stored.
When you transfer a cleaning solution from its master container into a spray bottle, are you labeling the bottle? This might not even be a safety practice that’s on your radar. You refilled the bottle so you know what’s in it, right? If that solution is used incorrectly because of improper labelling, it will lead to a slew of bigger problem down the line. Those problems might lead to a bigger violation that could put your “A” in jeopardy.
4. There is an issue with rodents, birds, insects, or animals.
We’re not talking about an infestation here. That would be a different scenario entirely. What we’re trying to avoid is the appearance of a few flies or a single cockroach. That could be as simple as keeping to doors to the restaurant shut and maintaining a level of cleanliness to prevent them all together.
5. Employees are not following proper protocol regarding eating, drinking, tobacco, or cell phone use.
Old habits are hard to break. It’s commonplace at this point for people to want their phones on them at all times, even when the situation might be inappropriate. Cell phones are very hard to sanitize should not be welcome in most kitchens. Wherever those cell phones end up resting will end up contaminated. To avoid points docked during your next inspection, make sure you have already normalized proper procedures and designated areas of use for employees.
MyFieldAudits Can Help You Minimize Minor Violations
No one wants their restaurant to lose their “A” because of a few minor violations. With MyFieldAudits’ standardized health inspection forms, you can ensure that you are maintaining your restaurant’s health consistently. With checklists and audits, you’re able to make sure nothing small slips through the cracks. These standardized electronic forms are easily completed and accessible to managers through our mobile app, enabling real time access to restaurant safety across the board. To learn more about MyFieldAudits and how we can help you retain your “A”, contact us today at info@MyFieldAudits.com.