Article 3. Personal Cleanliness
2VAC5-585-130. Clean condition of hands and arms.
Food employees shall keep their hands and exposed portions of their arms clean.P
Statutory Authority
§ 3.2-5121 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 2, eff. October 16, 2007; amended, Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 22, eff. July 12, 2016.
2VAC5-585-140. Cleaning procedure of hands and arms.
A. Except as specified in subsection D of this section, food employees shall clean their hands and exposed portions of their arms, including surrogate prosthetic devices for hands or arms for at least 20 seconds, using a cleaning compound in a handwashing sink that is equipped as specified under 2VAC5-585-2190 and 2VAC5-585-3020 through 2VAC5-585-3045.P
B. Food employees shall use the following cleaning procedure in the order stated to clean their hands and exposed portions of their arms, including surrogate prosthetic devices for hands and arms:
1. Rinse under clean, running warm water;P
2. Apply an amount of cleaning compound recommended by the cleaning compound manufacturer;P
3. Rub together vigorously for at least 10 to 15 seconds while:
a. Paying particular attention to removing soil from underneath the fingernails during the cleaning procedure;P and
b. Creating friction on the surfaces of the hands and arms or surrogate prosthetic devices for hands and arms, finger tips, and areas between the fingers;P
4. Thoroughly rinsing under clean, running warm water;P and
5. Immediately follow the cleaning procedure with thorough drying using a method as specified under 2VAC5-585-3030.P
C. To avoid recontaminating their hands or surrogate prosthetic devices, food employees may use disposable paper towels or similar clean barriers when touching surfaces such as manually operated faucet handles on a handwashing sink or the handle of a restroom door.
D. If approved and capable of removing the types of soils encountered in the food operations involved, an automatic handwashing facility may be used by food employees to clean their hands or surrogate prosthetic devices.
Statutory Authority
§ 3.2-5121 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 2, eff. October 16, 2007; amended, Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 7, eff. January 1, 2010; Volume 32, Issue 22, eff. July 12, 2016.
2VAC5-585-150. (Repealed.)
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 2, eff. October 16, 2007; repealed, Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 7, eff. January 1, 2010.
2VAC5-585-160. When to wash.
Food employees shall clean their hands and exposed portions of their arms as specified under 2VAC5-585-140 immediately before engaging in food preparation including working with exposed food, clean equipment and utensils, and unwrapped single-service and single-use articlesP and:
1. After touching bare human body parts other than clean hands and clean, exposed portions of arms;P
2. After using the toilet room;P
3. After caring for or handling service animals or aquatic animals as allowed under 2VAC5-585-250 B;P
4. Except as specified in 2VAC5-585-220 B, after coughing, sneezing, using a handkerchief or disposable tissue, using tobacco, eating, or drinking;P
5. After handling soiled equipment or utensils;P
6. During food preparation, as often as necessary to remove soil and contamination and to prevent cross contamination when changing tasks;P
7. When switching between working with raw food and working with ready-to-eat food;P
8. Before donning gloves to initiate a task that involves working with food;P and
9. After engaging in other activities that contaminate the hands.P
Statutory Authority
§ 3.2-5121 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 2, eff. October 16, 2007; amended, Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 22, eff. July 12, 2016.
2VAC5-585-170. Where to wash.
Food employees shall clean their hands in a handwashing sink or approved automatic handwashing facility and may not clean their hands in a sink used for food preparation or warewashing, or in a service sink or a curbed cleaning facility used for the disposal of mop water and similar liquid waste.Pf
Statutory Authority
§ 3.2-5121 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 2, eff. October 16, 2007; amended, Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 22, eff. July 12, 2016.
2VAC5-585-180. Hand antiseptics.
A. A hand antiseptic used as a topical application, a hand antiseptic solution used as a hand dip, or a hand antiseptic soap shall:
1. Comply with one of the following:
a. Be an approved drug that is listed in the "Approved Drug Products with Therapeutic Equivalence Evaluations, 39th Edition," 2019 (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) as an approved drug based on safety and effectiveness;Pf or
b. Have active antimicrobial ingredients that are listed in the FDA monograph for over the counter (OTC) Health-Care Antiseptic Drug Products, 82 FR 60474 (December 20, 2017) as an antiseptic handwash;Pf
2. Consist only of components that the intended use of each complies with one of the following:
a. A threshold of regulation exemption under 21 CFR 170.39; Pf
b. 21 CFR Part 178, as regulated for use as a food additive with conditions of safe use;Pf
c. A determination of generally recognized as safe (GRAS). Partial listings of substances with food uses that are GRAS may be found in 21 CFR Part 182, 21 CFR Part 184, or 21 CFR Part 186; and in FDA's Inventory of GRAS Notices;Pf
d. A prior sanction listed under 21 CFR Part 181;Pf or
e. A food contact notification that is effective;Pf and
3. Be applied only to hands that are cleaned as specified under 2VAC5-585-140.Pf
B. If a hand antiseptic or a hand antiseptic solution used as a hand dip does not meet the criteria specified under subdivision A 2 of this section, use shall be:
1. Followed by thorough hand rinsing in clean water before hand contact with food or by the use of gloves;Pf or
2. Limited to situations that involve no direct contact with food by the bare hands.Pf
C. A hand antiseptic solution used as a hand dip shall be maintained clean and at a strength equivalent to at least 100 mg/l (ppm) chlorine.Pf
Statutory Authority
§ 3.2-5121 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 2, eff. October 16, 2007; amended, Virginia Register Volume 26, Issue 7, eff. January 1, 2010; Volume 32, Issue 22, eff. July 12, 2016; Volume 37, Issue 19, eff. June 24, 2021.
2VAC5-585-190. Maintenance of fingernails.
A. Food employees shall keep their fingernails trimmed, filed, and maintained so the edges and surfaces are cleanable and not rough.Pf
B. Unless wearing intact gloves in good repair, a food employee may not wear fingernail polish or artificial nails when working with exposed food.Pf
Statutory Authority
§ 3.2-5121 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 2, eff. October 16, 2007; amended, Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 22, eff. July 12, 2016.
2VAC5-585-200. Prohibition of jewelry.
Except for a plain ring such as a wedding band, while preparing food, food employees may not wear jewelry, including medical information jewelry, on their arms and hands.
Statutory Authority
§ 3.2-5121 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 2, eff. October 16, 2007; amended, Virginia Register Volume 32, Issue 22, eff. July 12, 2016.
2VAC5-585-210. Clean condition of outer clothing.
Food employees shall wear clean outer clothing to prevent contamination of food equipment, utensils, linens, and single-service and single-use articles.
Statutory Authority
§ 3.2-5121 of the Code of Virginia.
Historical Notes
Derived from Virginia Register Volume 24, Issue 2, eff. October 16, 2007.