Method and system for improving hand cleanliness

Claim 1

A system for enhancing worker hygiene in a food handling environment including a food handling area and a bathroom, the system comprising: an indicator to be worn by a worker in the food handling environment, said indicator for generating an alarm signal when in an activated state indicative of possible worker contamination, said alarm signal only being generated after a predetermined delay period has expired following activation of the indicator; a continuously activated activating device located outside of and between said food handling area and said bathroom, said activating device for continuously emitting a first activating signal which activates said indicator when the worker wearing said indicator exits said food handling area; a hand cleaning station located proximate said food handling area and remote from said bathroom, said hand cleaning station for allowing the worker wearing the indicator to clean his/her hands after leaving said bathroom but before handling food and before said predetermined delay period has expired; and a deactivating device operatively associated with said hand cleaning station and disposed proximate the food handling area, said deactivating device emitting a second deactivating signal which deactivates said indicator worn by the worker when it is determined that the user has used said hand cleaning station so that the possibility of worker contamination in the food handling area is reduced.

Claim 2

A system for enhancing worker hygiene in a food handling environment including a food handling area and a bathroom, the system comprising: an indicator to be worn by a worker in the food handling environment, said indicator for generating an alarm signal when in an activated state indicative of possible worker contamination, said alarm signal only being generated after a predetermined delay period has expired following activation of the indicator; a continuously activated activating device located outside of and between said food handling area and said bathroom, said activating device for continuously emitting a first activating signal which activates said indicator when the worker wearing said indicator exits said food handling area; a hand cleaning station located proximate said food handling area and remote from said bathroom, said hand cleaning station for allowing the worker wearing the indicator to clean his/her hands after leaving said bathroom but before handling food and before said predetermined delay period has expired; and a deactivating device operatively associated with said hand cleaning station and disposed proximate the food handling area, said deactivating device emitting a second deactivating signal which deactivates said indicator worn by the worker when it is determined that the user has used said hand cleaning station so that the possibility of worker contamination in the food handling area is reduced.

Claim 8

A method of improving hand cleanliness in a food handling area, requiring clean hands, the method comprising the steps of: providing a clean area where clean hands are required; providing an indicator to be worn by a user in the clean area, the indicator for emitting an alarm signal if not subject to a deactivating signal within a predetermined time period; counting down the predetermined time period; resetting the predetermined time period upon the indicator receiving the deactivating signal, the deactivating signal being generated upon determination that the user has cleaned his/her hands at a hand cleaning station; and emitting an alarm signal from the indicator when the indicator does not receive the deactivating signal during the predetermined time period, whereby the alarm signal is emitted when the user fails to clean his/her hands before expiration of the predetermined time period.

Claim 9

A method of improving hand cleanliness in a food handling area, requiring clean hands, the method comprising the steps of: providing a clean area where clean hands are required; providing an indicator to be worn by a user in the clean area, the indicator for emitting an alarm signal if not subject to a deactivating signal within a predetermined time period; counting down the predetermined time period; resetting the predetermined time period upon the indicator receiving the deactivating signal, the deactivating signal being generated upon determination that the user has cleaned his/her hands at a hand cleaning station; and emitting an alarm signal from the indicator when the indicator does not receive the deactivating signal during the predetermined time period, whereby the alarm signal is emitted when the user fails to clean his/her hands before expiration of the predetermined time period.

Claim 12

A system for enhancing worker hygiene in a food handling area, the system comprising: an indicator to be worn by a worker in the food handling area, said indicator for generating an alarm signal if it does not receive a deactivating signal within a predetermined time period; a hand cleaning station located proximate said food handling area, said hand cleaning station for allowing the worker wearing the indicator to clean his/her hands; a deactivating device operatively associated with said hand cleaning station, said deactivating device for emitting a deactivating signal to be received by the indicator when it is determined that the user has used said hand cleaning station; and means for causing said indicator to emit said alarm signal when said predetermined time period expires before said indicator receives said deactivating signal, whereby the worker is required to clean his/her hands at said hand cleaning station at some time during every predetermined time period in order to avoid emittance of said alarm signal thereby enhancing hand cleanliness within the food handling area.

Claim 13

A system for enhancing worker hygiene in a food handling area, the system comprising: an indicator to be worn by a worker in the food handling area, said indicator for generating an alarm signal if it does not receive a deactivating signal within a predetermined time period; a hand cleaning station located proximate said food handling area, said hand cleaning station for allowing the worker wearing the indicator to clean his/her hands; a deactivating device operatively associated with said hand cleaning station, said deactivating device for emitting a deactivating signal to be received by the indicator when it is determined that the user has used said hand cleaning station; and means for causing said indicator to emit said alarm signal when said predetermined time period expires before said indicator receives said deactivating signal, whereby the worker is required to clean his/her hands at said hand cleaning station at some time during every predetermined time period in order to avoid emittance of said alarm signal thereby enhancing hand cleanliness within the food handling area.