An important aspect of our training focuses on employee safety. We partner with the District’s Risk and Benefit Management Department to be proactive in determining the areas that pose the greatest risk to employee safety and addressing ways that injuries can be avoided. Quarterly Meetings were scheduled to stay on top of worker injuries that occur on the job to ensure that all injuries are reported in a timely manner. The Accident Investigation form was reviewed and input was given as to how we could use it as a tool to avoid future injuries. The Employee training at the beginning of the school year stressed the importance of using all of the safety gear that is provided by School Food Service, such as goggles, face masks, protective gloves, and protective aprons. Employees are especially reminded to always wear non-slip, non-skid shoes. This year schools received heavy duty work gloves to use when receiving deliveries and working with products in the cooler and freezer to avoid injuries to their hands.

To ensure all employees remain safe, the Equipment Team technicians participated in Arc Flash Certification training to make sure they are working safely around electricity.

Additionally, our department partnered with Risk Management to research the possibility of implementing a Physical Demand Test to ensure that future employees are able to safely perform the duties required of the Food Service positions.