Well-Trained Employees Are
a Key Asset
Implementing and documenting effective employee training sessions are crucial to the success of a food safety risk-reduction program. Written procedures for equipment operation, with food safety in mind, can be simple to get started but should be comprehensive to include all machines and devices used in crop management and handling high quality, safe almonds.
Written procedures should be available to ensure all individuals and employees understand their role in food safety. Those who take part in year-round or seasonal orchard management should receive training on the expectations and responsibilities in personal hygiene on the farm.
An effective employee training program should include:
- Regularly scheduled training and reinforcement sessions
- Documentation of employees trained at each session
- Specific training in proper use of portable toilet and hand wash facilities
- Specific training in thorough hand-washing techniques
- Clear understanding of management policy and expectations for reporting illness and injury
- Management policies and procedures to prevent ill or injured workers from contacting almonds
- Cleaning and sanitation sequence for all equipment and tools used in the management of orchards
A set of training materials is available to help almond growers educate their workers in the application of Good Agricultural Practices in the field. The training kit contains a video, complete instructor guides in field sanitation, and teaching aids—everything you or your supervisor need to conduct training sessions in English or Spanish with field workers to be sure they understand both the why and the how of orchard sanitation.
To order a free set, send an e-mail to ABC or call (209) 549-8262.
External Links:
Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables
Farm and ranch worker friendly videos, in English and Spanish, are available from the National GAPs Program. These short VHS or DVD training tools made for fruit and vegetable producers and harvest operations were filmed extensively in California. They are presented in an easy, informative and uniform way to introduce your employees to the critical aspects and needs of personal hygiene on the farm. Though not specific to almonds, the shared responsibility for food safety to protect your business and employees’ source of employment is evident.
