Reflective Thinking
You are in a restaurant and go to the restroom. While in the restroom, you observe one of the
food service employees leave the restroom without washing her hands. What is your obligation
as a future health professional or a practicing health professional? Should you tell the
management, or should you ignore what you saw? Discuss why hand washing after using the
restroom is required for food service employees to protect the public. What diseases could be
spread by neglecting this sanitary practice? Select and discuss other sanitation measures that
restaurant employees are required by law to practice. Defend the local health department’s role
in inspecting restaurants. Discuss the measures taken by local health departments when there are
restaurant sanitation violations or disease occurrences.