Restaurant Kitchens
How to Enhance Restaurant Kitchen Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic
✓ See Our Room Supply ChecklistAs you review and assess the current layout and procedures of your kitchen, keep in mind that every COVID-19 precaution you take to protect your employees also directly impacts your customers. Because of food safety requirements mandated by your state, your kitchen staff are probably already well trained for this situation. Our recommendations are designed to help you ensure the safety of your employees and customers.
Educate your team on health and hygiene protocols. |
Be transparent. A well-informed team is a safe team. Post reminders and messages in strategic areas for team members to see.
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Frequently disinfect your kitchen, especially high-touch areas.
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Preventing foodborne illness is in your restaurant's DNA. But COVID-19 is a novel virus that often requires us to take a different, more aggressive approach.
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Promote the use of facemasks. |
Kitchen staff should wear facemasks or coverings at all times, especially if physical distancing is difficult. Shouting in restaurant kitchens is not unusual, and studies show that loud talking can increase the amount of respiratory droplets expelled from the mouth.
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Use physical distancing and barriers where possible. |
Staying 6' apart is likely going to be the most challenging change to your kitchen.
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Encourage frequent, thorough handwashing. |
The message has been loud and clear to the public during this pandemic - wash hands or use hand sanitizer. But hand sanitizer is not an acceptable alternative in a restaurant kitchen and should only be used after hands have been properly washed and not while staff is handling food directly.
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Keep in mind that recommendations from your state authorities, the CDC, and OSHA continue to change as we learn more about COVID-19. Be sure to stay updated by signing up for email notifications.
Resources
Links to All U.S. States' COVID-19 webpages
OSHA Guidance on Returning to Work (PDF)
CDC Resuming Business Toolkit (PDF)
Room Checklist
❏ Handwashing reminder signs
❏ Handwashing instructional signs
❏ Liquid hand soap
❏ Liquid hand soap dispenser
❏ Automatic hand sanitizer dispensers and refills
❏ Reminder signs to maintain social distancing and wear facemasks
❏ Sign holders
❏ Facemasks and/or face shields
❏ Gloves
❏ PPE organizers/holders
❏ Disinfectant
❏ Disinfecting wipes
❏ Disinfecting wipes holders
❏ Hands-free waste containers with lids
❏ Directional floor signs/decals (if implementing one-way traffic)
❏ Barrier shields/partitions
❏ Social distancing signs/decals/markers