government should not require food workers to wash their hands after using the toilet (rating, carry)

[TigerLily24]

Originally Posted by greywar

Sigh, this is a hit piece for some ill considered comments. The Senator said that if the restaurant was required to post that on a sign, the free market would resolve the issue.

While I disagree with him about if it should be required, the reports really try to make it into something it isn't.

Instead of posting employees that are required to wash their hands, he would have them post that they aren't required to wash their hands.

Seems to me that would still be making a demand on individual businesses.

[shiftymh]

Considering it is nearly impossible for an employer to verify that an employee has washed their hands, whatever the sign says is irrelevant.

[TigerLily24]

Originally Posted by Dane_in_LA

The clown/congressman cited did want a sign. He just wanted it to say "Employees may or may not have washed their hands."

I am predicting that few of the people participating in this thread will see or understand the irony.
The congressman certainly didn't.

[Clemencia53]

Originally Posted by Redraven

While it should certainly be a WORK rule (at the discretion of the employer), is it really the GOVERNMENT'S place to pass a law and enforce it?
IMO, no, it is not. Where in the Constitution does it say that the Federal Government has that power? If the Government is not granted the power, how can the Government give such power to an agency created by that Government?

Commerce Clause? Article 1

[Boss]

Tillis is what happens when large amounts of Money from the Kochs shows up (NC) in an off year election. We now get to be embarrassed for the next 6 years.

[BentBow]

Like a sign is going to make you wash your hands.
How about an automatic door lock, until the soap it pushed and the water turned on, with a sign on the door directing you to do just that to get out.


When will we see federal officials in each public bathroom, to fine and punish those not abiding by the law?

LOL... I have to laugh.

[shiftymh]

Originally Posted by BentBow

Like a sign is going to make you wash your hands.
How about an automatic door lock, until the soap it pushed and the water turned on, with a sign on the door directing you to do just that to get out.

Or an armed, government-appointed bathroom attendant making $15 bucks an hour.

[Roadking2003]

Originally Posted by Redraven

Then I guess you have never been to a popular sandwich shop. There is usually two people behind the counter. One takes your order and starts your sandwich. The other completes assembling your sandwich, wraps it, puts it in a bag, hands you your drink cup(s) and works the cash register completing the sale.

Have you ever watched how some (most) of those food handlers "wash" their hands? A quick rinse, a squirt of liquid soap, a quick rub, and another quick rinse. Useless! I have even seen them dry their hands on a towel that is hanging there for that purpose. That towel isn't even clean, much less sterile! Again, useless!

This is true. And I suspect handling cash makes their hands a lot more unsanitary than using a toilet.

[Dane_in_LA]

Originally Posted by Roadking2003

So you think they will only wash their hands if we pass a law?

It really doesn't matter what I think, feel or suppose - we know some restaurants will skip on essential hygiene if they can get away with it. It'd be nice to think that they wouldn't, but evidence shows that without someone looking over their shoulder to keep them on the straight and narrow, they'll cut corners. The signs are the tip of a huge iceberg.

BTW, restaurants also value their customers and most customers value hygiene. Why do customers go to McDonalds? One reason is it's clean.

It's a selling point for some, sure. Of course, clean tables and clean kitchens with safe foodhandling aren't necessarily linked. Unless you're into personally inspecting the kitchen of every restaurant you patronize.

50% of foodborne illness in the US comes from unsafe practices in restaurants.

BTW, hygiene is a trivial expense.

I'm sure you can find a cite for that. Those man-hours spent keeping hands, surfaces, cooling units etc. clean aren't free.

[Ponderosa]

There must be a jackass derby going on the the Republican party. The challenge this week is who can say and do the most toward turning back the clock on a century of progress in public health.