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Peninsula Group, HR and Health & Safety Experts
(Last updated )
Peninsula Group, HR and Health & Safety Experts
(Last updated )
Peninsula can help you prepare for your EHO inspection, and ensure your business complies with food and drink laws. And, in this guide, we'll discuss what an EHO inspection involves, food and drink safety laws, as well as how to avoid non-compliance.
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If you run a hospitality business, food hygiene should be your main priority. Not only does it prevent injury among your staff and customers, but it ensures you're ready for an Environmental Health Officer (EHO) inspection.
If you don't provide a safe and hygienic workplace, you could fail your EHO inspection. As a result, you may face legal proceedings and reputational damage. Or, you might even face business closure.
Peninsula can help you prepare for your EHO inspection, and ensure your business complies with food and drink laws. And, in this guide, we'll discuss what an EHO inspection involves, food and drink safety laws, as well as how to avoid non-compliance.
Find the safest and easiest way to resolve your workplace issue
EHO stands for Environmental Health Officer; a government-appointed employee who's responsible for inspecting food and drink businesses.
Environmental health officers help to protect both public health and the environment. For example, they conduct EHO inspections on food and drink companies - or any business that stores and produces food and drink.
An EHO inspection is an analysis of a company's hygiene and food safety practices. EHOs will evaluate the business premises to check all food and drink safety standards are being met. This ensures the food and drink is safe to eat.
For example, they’ll inspect how your business handles and stores food and drink.
The food and drink safety law that applies in the UK is The Food Safety Act (1990). It establishes the main responsibilities of all food and drink businesses in the UK - which are:
Meanwhile, the Food Standards Act (1999) outlines that The Food Standards Agency has the legal power to conduct food hygiene inspections. Put simply, they act in the public's interest when it comes to the food and drink industry, and follow the Food Law Code of Practice.
The Food Law Code of Practice is what local authorities follow when enforcing food hygiene rules. All relevant sections must be implemented and complied with. For example, it includes:
After the inspection, EHOs will provide the business with a food hygiene rating.
Food hygiene ratings help customers make informed decisions when eating out, as they outline the food hygiene standards of a business. The rating is based on their level of compliance, structural condition, and food management performance.
The food and drink hygiene rating scheme scores businesses as follows:
A rating of this kind suggests no awareness of the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP). HACCP is a management system in which food and drink safety is approached, to ensure the control of all food and drink hazards.
The business also has limited monitoring of critical control points, as well as poor structure and cleanliness. A business with this rating would be at an imminent risk of causing ill health, and urgent improvement is needed.
This rating means the business demonstrates an awareness of HACCP and routine monitoring of critical control points, but has limited documentation. For example, if the business doesn’t have a written food and drink safety policy.
In relation to structure and cleanliness, the premises must be generally fair. But, a business with this rating would be at high risk of causing ill health.
A premise with this rating outlines an understanding of HACCP, and will have good food and drink safety management systems.
The business will also have a good structure and cleanliness throughout.
A business with this rating will have a fully documented HACCP-based system, as well as including a system of self-inspection and verification.
Any premise with this rating would be at low risk of causing ill health.
There are three main areas EHOs inspect when visiting a business. Let's explore them in further detail, so you know what food and drink safety your business requires at all times. They are:
EHOs will evaluate the handling and storing of food and drink, as well as your overall food and drink preparation. This prevents cross-contamination of dangerous bacteria. They’ll consider the:
During an inspection, EHOs will also consider the condition of your food and drink premises, to ensure the food and drink you prepare is kept within a safe environment. This includes monitoring:
In addition to the above, EHOs will evaluate your food and drink safety management system. Meaning, how you enforce food and drink safety within your workplace. They'll look for:
If you fail an EHO inspection, it could have serious consequences for your business. For example, you will be given a legal notice which requires you to make swift improvements, or you may be subject to legal proceedings.
The type of notice will vary depending on the results of the inspection. For example, it could be one of the following:
That's not all - if you receive a poor rating it could damage your business's reputation. For example, customers may be made aware of your hygiene score and avoid eating at your premises.
To prepare for an EHO inspection, you must take several steps and consider your current food hygiene practices. The steps include:
The first step to prepare for any EHO inspection is to ensure your workplace is clean. If you don't already, ensure you have a proper cleaning schedule that all staff stick to.
Outline the basic cleaning standards of your business and ensure everyone is aware of what might happen if they don't. For example, the spread of infectious diseases and the legal consequences for your business.
When an EHO inspection happens, they'll look for what training you've provided your staff. So keep a record of this and ensure staff working with food and drink know how to safely store and prepare it.
Moreover, ensure at least one member of staff is aware of your food and drink safety management practices, and that they monitor this throughout your business.
Next, conduct a risk assessment of your workplace. Risk assessments help you identify hazards within your workplace, as well as any areas of risk.
For example, it might reveal that your staff have poor equipment maintenance, or that a food and drink handler is not taking the appropriate steps to ensure cross-contamination. Now you know what to improve, you can begin controlling hazards in your workplace or removing them.
Yes, food and drink inspectors have the power to take pictures and samples during an inspection.
No, you cannot refuse a food and drink inspection, if you do, a warrant from a magistrate can be obtained - allowing them to use reasonable force to enter your premises. EHOs have the right to enter a premises and inspect it without needing a notice.
An EHO can perform routine inspections every six months. However, some premises will be inspected much less than this. EHOs don’t have to make an appointment and can visit during reasonable hours. Because of this, you must always comply with food and drink hygiene laws.
Our consultants are here to help your business pass every inspection.
We’ll carry out on-site assessments so you’re confident your workplace is free from hazards and risk of harm. We’ll create workplace policies to keep your team safe. Not to mention, we’ll provide you with expert advice whenever you have a concern or query.
As a food and drink business owner, you must ensure you’re prepared for an EHO inspection. This means ensuring your workplace is clean and tidy, as well as providing adequate food and drink hygiene training to your staff.
Failure to prepare for a food and drink hygiene inspection could mean you fail. Consequently, you may face legal and reputational damages.
Peninsula can help you prepare for your EHO inspection, and ensure your business complies with food and drink laws. Our teams provide 24/7 Health & Safety advice which is available 365 days a year. We take care of everything when you work with our Health & Safety experts.
Want to find out more? Contact us on 0800 028 2420 and book a free consultation with a Health & Safety consultant today.
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