Sanitation management refers to the practices and procedures that must be followed in order to maintain a clean and safe environment. Sanitation is important in any job, but it is especially important in the food service, agriculture, and healthcare industries, where it is frequently enforced by law. To ensure that a facility maintains cleanliness and complies with all regional and federal sanitation codes, skilled workers and supervisors are required. Sanitation workers’ responsibilities may include physically cleaning facilities, training employees in sanitary practices, and performing routine inspections.
Sanitation workers in the food service industry are in charge of keeping restaurants, cafeterias, grocery stores, and bars clean and safe for customers. Janitors and other employees clean the floors and walls, as well as the tables, chairs, doors, and eating trays, and the bathrooms. Dishwashers are hired by many establishments to clean reusable dishes and kitchen appliances on a regular basis. The majority of sanitation workers in the food service industry learn their skills on the job from experienced workers and trainers. Many facilities appoint sanitation managers to supervise other workers and ensure that nothing is overlooked or improperly cleaned.
A sanitation inspector may work for a food service company or for a government agency that enforces sanitation laws and codes. He or she conducts regular inspections to ensure that a facility is clean and safe for both employees and customers. Government inspectors have the authority to fine businesses for unsanitary practices or even shut them down until they meet certain standards.
Sanitation management in healthcare is similar to that in the food service industry, with an emphasis on sterilization and proper disposal of potentially hazardous products. Used needles, gauze, and other items should be disposed of in biohazard waste bins, according to healthcare workers. In addition to performing standard cleaning duties, trained janitors may be asked to sterilize medical testing equipment and operating rooms. Furthermore, regular government health inspections are an important part of hospital sanitation management.
Sanitation management is used in other industries to ensure that food and other goods are safe to consume and use. In agricultural institutions and manufacturing plants that package beverages and foodstuffs, sanitation is critical. A contaminated crop or animal product has the potential to kill a large number of innocent people. Officials from the federal government are usually in charge of sanitation in agricultural and packaging plants.
To protect a community’s health, municipal facilities such as wastewater treatment plants practice careful sanitation management. The presence of harmful bacteria or chemicals that could harm citizens is routinely tested in water supplies. Sewer lines are maintained, filtration techniques are effective, and drinking water supplies are not tainted by pollution by skilled workers.