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
Townsville City Council has subscribed to an online I'M ALERT Food Safety program which enables food handlers to complete training for FREE, in their own time and at a location of their choosing, thereby reducing costs for the food business and improving productivity. It will also help protect your business as food handlers will have imrpoved skills to help reduce food poisoning.
Council highly recommends any person (food handlers as well as Food Safety Supervisors) involved in the food industry to complete this training program. It is also ideal for anyone in the community to do as it can help to improve your skills when cooking in the kitchen at home for family and friends.
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I'M ALERT Food Safety is an online food safety training program that delivers FREE training to food handlers and enables a consistent and efficient delivery of Food Safety Training. The program can be accessed online and includes:
- Basic food safety principles for Food Safety Standards (e.g. temperature control, food receipt, food storage, hygiene of food handlers etc).
- Interactive tasks and quizzes.
- Training acknowledgement form and certificate (assists a food business operator and staff to demonstrate skills and knowledge requirements).
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Food Safety Supervisors
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. The FSS must have substantial experience in the food industry and has acquired extensive skills and knowledge in matter relating to food safety and know how to recognise, prevent and alleviate food safety hazards.
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.
Factsheets
Further Information
If you have any further questions regarding Food Safety Supervisors please contact Environmental Health Services.