Ohio Food Handler Laws

In Ohio, food safety codes are established by the state Department of Health, and all food service operations must be licensed. All food handlers are to be trained in food safety according to their assigned duties.

Employee Health

• A food handler must report to his food service operation's person in charge any condition that is transmittable to food. If the employee is experiencing vomiting, diarrhea, or has an open or draining infected wound, the person in charge should restrict that employee's contact with food, to reduce the risk of food-borne disease transmission.

  The person in charge should contact her local department of health when a food handler is diagnosed by a health care provider with an illness such as hepatitis A or Norovirus.

Hand Washing

• A food handler must keep her exposed hands and arms clean. She must wash her hands for at least 20 seconds with running warm water and a hand sanitizer after using the toilet; after touching bare human body parts other than clean hands; after coughing, sneezing, using a handkerchief or disposable tissue; and after using tobacco, eating or drinking.

Prevention/Solution

• Food handlers should eat, drink and smoke only in designated areas to reduce contamination of exposed food; of clean equipment, utensils, or linens; and of unwrapped single-service or single-use articles.