What action should be taken if no hand washing station is available?

If no hand washing station is available, using an adjacent bathroom facility is the appropriate action to ensure food safety. Hand washing is crucial in preventing the spread of foodborne illness, and when a designated hand washing station is not accessible, utilizing a nearby restroom allows for proper hand hygiene to be maintained.

Choosing a bathroom is a practical solution because these facilities are equipped with sinks, soap, and often paper towels, enabling staff to effectively wash their hands in a controlled manner. This alternative helps to uphold the standards set by food safety regulations, which emphasize the importance of washing hands before handling food, after using the restroom, or after any potential contamination.

The other options would not provide a viable means of maintaining proper hand hygiene. Skipping hand washing entirely puts consumers at risk by increasing the likelihood of cross-contamination and foodborne illnesses. Relying solely on hand sanitizer is also insufficient, as hand sanitizers are not effective when hands are visibly dirty or greasy, and they do not remove all types of pathogens. Seeking guidance from a supervisor could be a good practice in some contexts, but in the situation where immediate action is required and hand washing is crucial, the restroom facility serves as an immediate solution.