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Importance of Proper Sanitation Techniques

Proper sanitation techniques must be practiced in many different jobs. These techniques help protect people from the spread of infection and disease. Cross-contamination happens when procedures are ignored or accidentally violated. The food service industry and health-care industry are often the most scrutinized, though most service industries and public locations are susceptible.

  1. Hand Washing

    • Hand washing remains one of the best ways to prevent the spread of disease and infection. Many germs and contaminants cannot live if presented with warm, soapy water. Everything you touch during the day can be contaminated with something. While the germs might not make you ill, when touching someone with a weaker immune system such as a baby, you put the other person at risk. In addition, you put yourself at risk the longer you are exposed to whatever you have touched. Washing hands before and after you handle food, when you go to the restroom or anytime you have come in contact with highly public surfaces such as handrails will help keep you healthy.

    Proper Disposal of Waste

    • Waste disposal is often overlooked in the United States. Most towns have proper sanitation departments and sewage systems keeping the general population safe. But if waste comes too close to groundwater or food products, people will get very sick. This becomes a problem when natural disasters such as flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes happen, as the drinking water often becomes infected. Making sure you dispose of waste quickly, in proper receptacles helps keep you and others safe from unwanted disease such as E. coli. The 2010 Oscar nominated documentary film "Food, Inc." suggests that the mass animal farms in proximity to vegetable farms were the cause of the E. coli breakouts from contaminated spinach in the late 2000s.

    Cleaning Tools and Sterilization

    • Cleaning utensils and tools used from person to person is important to stop illness. Everyone has a certain amount of bacteria, which can be harmful to others. Washing utensils, hairbrushes and medical instruments eliminates the spread of unwanted bacteria and illness. Many microbes can live in saliva, blood or other bodily fluids and can be transported from person to person via these re-usable devices if they are not properly cleaned. Lack of sanitation in hospitals and restaurants can lead to outbreaks of hepatitis or other diseases.

    Outside Contaminants

    • Food can come laced with bacteria or pesticides that can make you sick. Properly washing and cooking food kill any such contaminants and protect you from infection. Your clothing can also attract germs from the outside. Cleaning your clothing regularly not only keeps things smelling fresh, it also keeps infection away. Wearing clothing that properly covers your body keeps contaminants out of open areas. This is particularly important if you have any type of open wound. Health-care and food service workers should always wear gloves in order to protect themselves. The gloves need to be changed when dealing with a new food item or a new patient in order to prevent cross-contamination.

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