Who is this programme for?
Food handlers and employees involved in preparing, storing, serving or selling food in the setting covered by the course.
This general Level 2 route develops everyday food-handler awareness. It is useful when you need the core principles before moving into a more specialised setting or supervisory role.
What will you learn?
Understand how food-handling decisions affect contamination risk and the safety of the people who consume the product.
- Biological, chemical, physical and allergen hazards and routes of contamination.
- Personal hygiene, cleaning and the control of food storage and preparation.
- Responsibilities, reporting problems and following the workplace food safety system.
What does cross-contamination mean in everyday work?
Cross-contamination is the transfer of a hazard from one source to another. Food safety learning helps handlers recognise how equipment, hands, materials and work surfaces can connect activities that appear separate. The relevant examples depend on whether food is being prepared, displayed or manufactured.
Understanding the reason behind hygiene controls makes routines easier to apply consistently. It also helps staff explain a problem accurately when something changes, rather than assuming that a product is safe because it looks normal.
How is the published knowledge assessment structured?
The OSHAS programme page describes an open-book knowledge assessment with 2 hours allowed and a minimum pass score of 65%. These are the rules for this programme, not a universal pass mark for every OSHAS course. Practical duties also require competence appropriate to the work.
Why choose a food course matched to my workplace?
Catering, retail and manufacturing have different activities and points where contamination can occur. Matching the course to the setting makes examples and controls more relevant. Everyday handling knowledge also differs from the management skills needed to oversee a food safety system.