Power Outage Food Safety In-Service

Keeping food safe is an essential part of the daily foodservice profession. A foodborne illness or outbreak can be caused by improperly handling food or food left in the temperature danger zone for more than four hours. Because food temperature is an important part of food safety, if your facility loses power, certain procedures must be enforced in order to ensure all food is being stored, cooked, held for service, or served in the safest manner possible. After completion of this in-service, the participants will be able to:

• Identify the need for food safety during a power outage.
• List ways to prepare for potential power outages.
• Explain hor to keep freezers and coolers cold without power.
• Describe how to create a safe environment for potentially hazardous foods in the freezer and cooler when power returns.

Recovering from Natural Disasters

Natural disasters could affect any facility at any location. Being prepared for a disaster can increase safety at any site. Each type of disaster is different and should be handled accordingly. After completeing this in-service, the participants will be able to:

• Describe different ways to prepare for a disaster.
• Identify precautions that need to be taken after a disaster.
• List the ways to clean and decontaminate after a disaster.

Water Safety in Emergency Situations In-Service

Water is the most critical nutrient that humans need for survival. Humans can go several days without food, but they cannot survive without water. Preparing emergency water supplies and knowing how to locate additional water sources during an emergency are two of the most important steps in dietary disaster planning. After completion of this in-service, the participants will be able to:

• Identify the need for water safety.
• Indicate the amount of stored water needed per person per day.
• List appropriate sources of water during an emergency.
• Demonstrate how to purify contaminated water.

Planning for Emergencies Checklist

This checklist provides logical steps to preparing your facility for a disaster or emergency.

Emergency Food Service Phone Numbers Checklist

This list is a useful tool to help organize your staff in case of a possible emergency or disaster.