Saturday, April 9, 2016

A to Z: Health Inspector

"Health inspector is here!" i heard Dennis whisper.  Looking at my own station, i couldn't see anything that would cause trouble.  Paper lined the table for the cream cheese to sit out on as it warmed, the butter was all still in wrappers in the big box, and i hadn't pulled the sugar bag for the next batch out yet.

The frosting that was in the mixer was doing just as it should.  Yes, there was powdered sugar on the floor next to the mixer, but that's going to happen the whole time you are making frosting as some powdered sugar will spill, you clean all of it up at the end.  When i'm done making frosting, i clean down the whole mixer then clean the entire floor around it with sanitizer.

Pulling down the freshly washed buckets, i took a clean towel and wiped them out, carefully setting them on paper on the floor near the mixer, so i could fill them when the frosting finished mixing.  The rule is the outside of the bucket cannot touch the floor, so we put down the paper and roll the mixer bowl to them to fill them up, then move them to the cooler or put them on a shelf under one of the frosting tables.

As usual, i washed my hands and dried them well and then put on the gloves before scooping the frosting by hand from the mixer bowl to the buckets, and made sure the inspector saw me doing it.  (Yes, we scoop by hand, there's really no other efficient way, but as i said we wash up and wear gloves before putting the ingredients in the mixer, then again before scooping, so it really is sanitary.)

While i didn't pay attention to what anyone else was doing, i'm sure they were being just as careful.  We try, we really do, and my motto is, if the health inspector walked in right now, would s/he like what i'm doing.  If not, i need to correct it.

She looked around and asked why there wasn't a second handwashing sink.  The answer is, there was, but it was in such a location that it was never used.  The bakery applied to be allowed to remove it, and permission was given because the sinks we have were deemed sufficient.

She didn't seem to like that answer, and talked to the managers about it for a long time.  This happens with every new inspector, i understand.  Someone has to go look up where permission was given to remove the extra sink to prove that we have enough of them to cover what the law requires.

Be careful of the health inspector, and keep your paperwork handy.  



Today is:

Appomattox Day -- US (marking the end of the US Civil War on this day in 1865)

Astronauts' Day -- web generated by someone who wants all these brave people honored

Baby Massage Day

Baghdad Liberation Day -- Kurdistan, Iraq

Bataan Day/Day of Valor -- Philippines (Araw ng Kagitingan)

Bodega Bay Fisherman's Festival -- Bodega Bay, CA, US (fun, fish, wine tastings, and more; through tomorrow)

Cimarron Territory Celebration and World Cow Chip–throwing® Championship Contest -- Beaver, OK, US ("a highly specialized organic sporting event", as well as poker fun, food, crafts, and a parade; through next Saturday)

Crabbie's Grand National -- Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, England (the world's greatest steeplechase, according to many, dating back to 1839)

Dita e Kushtetutes -- Kosovo (Constitution Day)

Dry Milk Day -- the first patent for powdered milk was issued this day in 1872 to Samuel Percy

Feast of Jalal (Glory) -- Baha'i

Feast of Pak Tai -- Macau (Pak Tai who conquered the Demon King, celebrated the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month)

Independence Restoration Day -- Georgia (formerly Day of National Unity)

Martyr's Day -- Tunisia

Name Yourself Day -- an internet holiday allowing you to change your name for a day, if you want to.

National Cherish An Antique Day -- hooray for old fashioned quality!

National Chinese Almond Cookie Day

National Former Prisoner of War Recognition Day -- US

Observation of the Nazi Occupation -- Denmark (anniversary of the Nazi invasion)

Public Library Day -- US (anniversary of the opening of the first "publicly funded" library -- i.e. a tax based, free library -- in the US, in 1833 in Petersborough, New Hampshire)

Remembrance for Haakon Sigurdsson -- Asatru/Norse Pagan Calendar (Haakon the Great, one of the Jarls of Hladhir)

Shangsi Festival -- China (ancient Double Third festival, on the 3rd day of the 3rd lunar month)

Slow Art Day -- a global all-volunteer event with the simple mission of helping more people discover for themselves the joy of looking at and loving art

St. Casilda's Day (Patron against sterility)

St. Mary of Cleophas' Day (one of the Marys in the Bible who was present at the Crucifixion)

Verruca Day -- Fairy Calendar (Goblin Celebration again)

Vimy Ridge Day -- Canada

Winston Churchill Day -- commemmorates his becoming an honorary US citizen

World Konkani Day -- Goa (Official language of the Indian state of Goa; on the death anniversary of the pioneer of modern Konkani literature, Vaman Raghunath Varde Valaulikar)

Yasurai Matsuri -- Imamiya Jinja, Kyoto, Japan (festival to prevent ill health)

Yo-Yo & Skill Toys Convention -- Spinning Top and Yo-Yo Museum, Burlington, WI, US (21st annual, with exhibits, demos, contests, and fun; through tomorrow, and again next weekend)


Anniversaries Today:

Sophia Loren marries Carlo Ponti, 1966
Wayne Newton marries Kathleen McCrone, 1994
Charles, Prince of Wales, marries Camilla Parker-Bowles, 2005


Birthdays Today:

Elle Fanning, 1998
Kristen Stewart, 1990
Jesse McCartney, 1987
Leighton Meester, 1986
Taylor Kitsch, 1981
Keshia Knight Pulliam, 1979
Rachel Stevens, 1978
Gerard Way, 1977
Austin Peck, 1971
Jacques Villeneueve, 1971
Cynthia Nixon, 1966
Paulina Prizkova, 1965
Dennis Quaid, 1954
Michael Learned, 1939
Avery Schreiber, 1935
Jean-Paul Belmondo, 1933
Paul Krassner, 1932
Tom Lehrer, 1928
Hugh Hefner, 1926
John Presper Eckert, Jr., 1919
Ward Bond, 1903
Paul Robeson, 1898
Efrem Zimbalist, 1889
Frank King, 1883
Eadweard Muybridge, 1830
Charles Baudelaire, 1821
Tamerlane, 1336


Debuting/Premiering Today:

"Ticket to Ride"(Beatles' single), 1965
"Diamond Lil"(Play), 1928
"Shadow of a Gunman"(Play), 1923
The World, the Flesh and the Devil(Film), 1914


Today in History:

The Mongol hordes defeat the Poles and Germans in the Battle of Liegnitz, 1241
Robert Cavalier de la Salle reaches the mouth of the Mississippi River and claims all the land drained by the river and its tributaries for France, 1682
The African Methodist Episcopal church in the US is formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1816
The oldest audible sound recording of a human voice is made, 1860
Robert E. Lee surrenders the Army of Northern Virginia to Ulysses Grant at Appomattox Court House, effectively ending the US Civil War, 1865
Passing by a single vote, the United States Senate ratifies a treaty with Russia for the purchase of Alaska, 1967
The Hudson Bay Company cedes its territory to Canada, 1869
Jumbo the Elephant arrives in the US, 1882
The Titanic leaves Queenstown, Ireland for NYC, 1912
The first full color film, "World, The Flesh, and The Devil", premiers in London, 1914
Mae West makes her NYC debut in "Diamond Lil," 1928
The first Japanese built aircraft to fly to Europe, the Kamikaze, arrives at Croydon Airport in London, 1937
The Suez Canal is officially opened for shipping, 1957
NASA announces the selection of the United States' first seven astronauts, whom the news media quickly dub the "Mercury Seven", 1959
In the first game in the Astrodome, Houston beats the Yankees 2-1 in an exhibition game, and Mickey Mantle hits the first indoor home run, 1967
The first British built Concorde makes its first flight, 1969
Georgia declares its indepedence from Russia, 1991
The funeral of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, at Westminster Abbey, 2002
Facebook purchases Instagram, a photo sharing application, for $1 billion, 2012

11 comments:

  1. Hm, sounds as if they feel they need to justify their own existence. That's always hard to deal with. Your workplace sounds very responsible so I guess it's going to be just hassle, nothing worse.

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  2. I used to deal with these folks for many years. You learn to know exactly what they are looking for. I love your motto though. That's a great motto.

    Have a fabulous day. ☺

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  3. oh boyo- never had to pass inspection! Have a sweet icing day!

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  4. There are so many rules and regulations, but these do tend to keep consumers protected. I'd like to see pictures of some of your products.

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  5. i have no doubt you are diligent.

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  6. Just doing their job, and maybe looking for some free cookies?

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  7. I am glad we have them (inspectors) because there are places that cut corners to save time and money and maybe introduce germs and make someone sick. I am glad there are workers like you who do their job and we all are safe. Now for those inspectors who fear lose of their jobs unless they intimidate you, well, you seem to be able to cope with them as well.

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  8. When you are doing everything right (which it sounds like you are) they have to find something to nit pick to justify their jobs
    Debbie

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  9. Well your description alone makes me very very safe and comfortable about businesses practicing due diligence!! Most restaurants and food establishments are very good -- because they will lost their customers and ultimately their business if they don't. But people are funny - I've seen the same concern germaphobes drink straight out of a pop can (eeewwwww - wash it first please!!), but complain when they realize just how much a cook, or baker uses their actual hands on their food. Our bodies can handle a few germs people!! In fact, it's good for our bodies - keeps em working right.

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  10. Why, oh why, aren't there records that would show that? It seems like that would be something that if it's the second, fifth, or 73rd inspector, they would have an easily accessible record of that sort of thing. Specially in the age of all things on the 'net... Hmph.

    Cat

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