It’s a fact that is often overlooked, but Australian healthcare settings are responsible for serving millions of meals each year. Hospital employees may be serving patients instead of customers, but the need for food safety is just as critical, if not more so.
Some of the country’s most vulnerable people rely on hospital food services, leaving no margin for error when it comes to the safe food preparation, handling and service. Fortunately, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) legislation is in place to ensure that hospital staff meet the required food safety standards.
For example, FSANZ Standard 3.2.2A introduces the mandatory requirement for Food Safety Supervisor certification. In this blog we’ll explain what this means for hospital employees, focusing on the critical role that professional food safety training plays in achieving compliance.
Read on to discover how Food Safety First training can help your organisation ensure compliance with Standard 3.2.2A.
How Does Standard 3.2.2A Impact Hospitals?
Standard 3.2.2A imposes the same food safety regulations for hospitals as it does for restaurants, cafes and bars. FSANZ classifies hospitals as Category 1 establishments due to the fact that they prepare and serve food to be consumed in-house, often by vulnerable individuals.
Significantly, regulations dictate that all establishments in Category 1 must employ at least one designated Food Safety Supervisor at any given time. Given the trust placed in hospitals to safeguard patient health, employee participation in food safety training is as much a moral obligation as it is a legal one.
Who Needs Food Safety Training in a Hospital Environment?
Food safety training is necessary for anyone involved in food handling, preparation for delivery, making it relevant to a range of hospital-based roles, including healthcare providers and support staff.
What Food Safety Training Should Hospital Employees Complete?
In addition to Food Handler training, some hospital employees may be required to complete the Food Safety Supervisor course. Doing so will permit them to take on a supervisory role, overseeing day-to-day food handling activities and ensuring compliance with Standard 3.2.2A.
What is Included in the Food Safety Supervisor Course for Health & Community?
The Food Safety Supervisor course is an online training program that features a government approved curriculum encompassing a wide range of topics covered over the course of 19 interactive lessons.
Lessons
Lesson 1 - Food Safety Laws & Responsibilities
Lesson 2 - Food Contamination & High-Risk Groups
Lesson 3 - Biological Contamination
Lesson 4 - Other Types of Contamination
Lesson 5 - Allergen Management
Lesson 6 - Cleaning & Sanitising
Lesson 7 - Maintaining Food Premises
Lesson 8 - Hand Washing
Lesson 9 - Personal Hygiene & Workplace Behaviour
Lesson 10 - Illness & Onsite Injuries
Lesson 11 - Time & Temperature Control
Lesson 12 - Receiving & Storing Food
Lesson 13 - Working with Food Safely
Lesson 14 - Serving Food Safely
Lesson 15 - Food Safety Programs
Lesson 16 - Identifying Food Safety Hazards
Lesson 17 - Monitoring, Controlling & Correcting Food Safety Hazards
Lesson 18 - Reporting, Investigating & Recording Food Safety Breaches
Lesson 19 - Food Safety Management
These lessons are accompanied by a number of activities designed to assess a student’s understanding of the course content.
Assessment Activities
Lesson Quizzes
Each lesson is followed by a multiple choice quiz. Participants have five attempts to score 100 percent before moving onto the next lesson.
Reading Activity
The Food Safety Supervisor course features a reading activity on the topic of potentially hazardous foods. This activity is included as a downloadable PDF document accessible through the student portal. Students are required to read the document in detail before answering questions based on its content.
Case Studies
Two case studies are included as part of the assessment process. After reading each one, participants must correctly answer a series of multiple choice questions.
Observer Report
This activity is conducted in person. It requires students to showcase practical skills such as hand washing under the observation of a nominated colleague. In each case, the observer is required to complete and submit a report, verifying the satisfactory execution of tasks.
The Food Safety Supervisor course for Health & Community covers the following food safety procedures within the Observer Report section:
- Cleaning and sanitising practices
- Food preparation
- Hand washing practices
- Personal hygiene
- Pest reporting
- Reporting personal health issues
- Safe food storage
- Single-use items
What Units of Competency Do Hospital Employees Need to Complete?
The required units of competency will vary depending on which state or territory you work in.
Health & Community
The following units are recognised by health departments in Australian Capital Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia:
- HLTFSE001 (Follow basic food safety practices)
- HLTFSE005 (Apply and monitor food safety requirements)
- HLTFSE007 (Oversee the day-to-day implementation of food safety in the workplace)
Hospitality
Authorities in New South Wales and the Northern Territory don’t currently accept the units of competency for Health & Community. Consequently, establishments located in these regions must instead complete the units of competency for Hospitality:
- SITXFSA005 (Use hygienic practices for food safety)
- SITXFSA006 (Participate in safe food handling practices)
How Long Does a Health & Community Food Safety Supervisor Certificate Last?
Upon completion of the Food Safety Supervisor course, you’ll be awarded a Statement of Attainment which lists the industry-specific units of competency obtained. This acts as your proof of certification and has a five-year validity period.
To remain compliant with FSANZ Standard 3.2.2A, hospital employees must renew their Food Safety Supervisor certification before it expires. To do so, they must retake the Food Safety Supervisor course at least once every five years.
What Does It Take To Become a Certified Food Safety Supervisor?
Achieving Food Safety Supervisor certification is more straightforward than you might think. Simply follow the steps outlined below:
1. Visit the Food Safety First Website
As a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), Food Safety First has government authorisation to conduct Food Safety Supervisor training throughout Australia.
2. Enrol
Select the Food Safety Supervisor course and complete your registration online or over the phone (1300 856 836).
3. Select an Industry
Several industry-specific options are available for the Observer Report section of the course. Make sure you select Health & Community.
4. Complete the Course
Progress through each of the interactive lessons, case studies and quizzes online at your own pace before completing your Observer Report tasks.
5. Receive Your Certificate
After passing the assessment activities and submitting your declaration, you'll be awarded a Statement of Attainment outlining the units of competency obtained (HLTFSE001, HLTFSE005 and HLTFSE007).
It’s Time to Get Started
The Food Safety Supervisor course is your hassle-free route to certification and legal compliance. Enrol with Food Safety First today and take advantage of the following:
- Affordable training programs
- No hidden fees
- 24/7 online access (no classroom attendance required)
- Government-approved training delivered by a Registered Training Organisation (RTO)
- Legal compliance with FSANZ Standard 3.2.2A
Need help? The Food Safety First team is here to support you. Contact us today to discover even more about the Food Safety Supervisor course.