Rule 37.110.210 - FOOD EMPLOYEES(1) No person, while infected with a disease in a communicable form that can be transmitted by foods or who is a carrier of organisms that cause such a disease or while afflicted with a boil, an infected wound, diarrheal illness or acute gastrointestinal illness or an acute respiratory infection, shall work in a food service establishment in any capacity in which there is likelihood of such person contaminating food or food contact surfaces with pathogenic organisms or transmitting disease to other persons. Food employees experiencing persistent sneezing, coughing or runny nose that causes discharges from the eyes, nose or mouth may not work with exposed food; clean equipment, utensils, and linens; or unwrapped single-service or single-use articles.(2) Food employees and other authorized persons shall maintain a high degree of personal cleanliness and shall conform to good hygienic practices during all working periods in the food service establishment.(3) Food employees shall clean their hands in a hand washing facility that conforms to the requirements in ARM 37.110.221.(4) Food employees shall thoroughly wash their hands and the exposed portions of their arms with soap and warm running water after any of the following activities: (a) immediately before engaging in food preparation, including working with exposed food, clean equipment and utensils and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles;(b) during food preparation, as often as necessary to remove soil and contamination and to prevent cross contamination when changing tasks;(c) when switching between working with raw foods and working with ready-to-eat foods;(d) after handling soiled equipment or utensils;(e) after coughing, sneezing, using a handkerchief or disposable tissue;(f) after using the toilet room;(g) after eating, drinking or using tobacco;(h) after touching bare human body parts other than clean hands and clean, exposed portions of arms;(i) after caring for or handling support animals; or(j) after engaging in other activities that contaminate the hands.(5) If used, chemical hand sanitizers must: (a) have active antimicrobial ingredients that are listed as safe and effective for application to human skin as an antiseptic handwash pursuant to the U.S. food and drug administration's regulations for over-the-counter health-care antiseptic drug products; and(b) have only components that are: (i) regulated for the intended use as food additives as specified in 21 CFR 178; or(ii) generally recognized as safe for the intended use in contact with food within the meaning of the federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, section 201(s); and(c) be applied only to hands and arms that are cleaned with a cleaning compound in a hand washing facility by thoroughly rubbing together the surfaces of their lathered hands and arms and thoroughly rinsing with clean water;(d) if a hand sanitizer or a chemical hand sanitizing solution used as a hand dip does not meet the criteria specified in (5) (a) through (c) of this rule, use must be: (i) followed by thorough hand rinsing in clean water before hand contact with food or by the use of gloves; or(ii) limited to situations that involve no direct contact with food by the bare hands;(e) a chemical hand sanitizing solution used as a hand dip shall be maintained clean and at a strength equivalent to at least 100mg/L chlorine.(6) Food employees in a food establishment shall adhere to the following requirements to prevent contamination of food: (a) minimize contact with exposed ready-to-eat food with bare hands by using utensils such as deli tissue, spatula, tongs, single-use gloves or dispensing equipment;(b) minimize contact of bare hands and arms with exposed food that is not in a ready-to-eat form;(c) use single-use gloves for only one task, such as working with ready-to-eat food or with raw animal food; use them for no other purpose; and discard them when they are damaged or soiled or when interruptions occur in the food operation;(d) use clean slash-resistant gloves with ready-to-eat foods that will not be subsequently cooked if the slash-resistant gloves have a smooth, durable, and nonabsorbent outer surface or are covered with a smooth, durable, nonabsorbent glove, or single-use glove;(e) use a utensil only once to taste food that is to be sold or served.(7) Food employee practices must conform to the following requirements: (a) Food employees shall keep their fingernails trimmed, filed, and maintained so the edges and surfaces are cleanable and not rough.(b) Unless wearing intact gloves in good repair, a food employee may not wear fingernail polish or artificial fingernails when working with exposed food.(c) While preparing food, food employees may not wear jewelry on their arms and hands except a simple wedding band.(d) Food employees shall wear clean outer clothing. If uniforms are not provided, clean outer coverings must be worn over clothing or the employee shall change to clean clothing if their clothing is soiled.(e) Food employees may eat, drink, or use any form of tobacco only in designated areas where the contamination of exposed food; clean equipment, utensils and linens; unwrapped single-service and single-use articles; or other items needing protection cannot occur. However, a food employee may drink from a closed beverage container if the container is handled to prevent contamination of the food employee's hands, the container; exposed food; clean equipment, utensils and linens; and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles.(f) Food employees shall wear hair restraints such as hats, hair coverings or nets, beard restraints, and clothing that covers body hair. The hair restraints must be designed and worn to effectively keep hair from contacting exposed food; clean equipment, utensils, and linens; and unwrapped single service and single-use articles. (i) Subsection (7) (f) does not apply to food employees such as counter staff who only serve beverages and wrapped or packaged foods, hostesses, and wait staff if they present a minimal risk of contaminating exposed food, clean equipment, utensils, linens, and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles.(8) Persons unnecessary to the food establishment operation may not be allowed in the food preparation, food storage, or warewashing areas, except as allowed by the person in charge if steps are taken to ensure that exposed food, clean equipment, utensils and linens; and unwrapped single-service and single-use articles are protected from contamination.Mont. Admin. r. 37.110.210
NEW, 1979 MAR p. 677, Eff. 7/13/79; TRANS & AMD, 2000 MAR p. 3201, Eff. 11/23/00.Sec. 50-50-103, MCA; IMP, Sec. 50-50-103, MCA;