Food safety supervisor
The basic requirements for class 1 and most class 2 businesses to register are:
- a food safety program
- a food safety supervisor
Food Safety Supervisor’s role
The Food Safety Supervisor of your food business:
- knows how to recognise, prevent and reduce hazards associated with handling food at your business
- has the ability and authority to supervise other people handling food at your business and makes sure that food handling is done safely, and
- has a Statement of Attainment that shows they have the required food safety competencies from a Registered Training Organisation.
Requirements for food safety supervisors
- The proprietor must ensure there is a food safety supervisor for the premises
- Where the food premises uses a Quality Assurance food safety program - a food safety supervisor may not be required
- The food safety supervisor may be the proprietor
Statement of Attainment for a Food Safety Supervisor
Registered Training Organisations can provide training, assess skills and issue Statements of Attainment. They also assess existing skills and knowledge and provide a certificate of Recognition of Prior Learning.
A Food Safety Supervisor can get a Statement of Attainment by:
- doing a training course, or
- getting previously completed training and/or work experience recognised by a Registered Training Organisation.
The food safety skills you need to learn in a training course or have recognised by a Registered Training Organisation depend on your food business.
Competencies you need to be a Food Safety Supervisor
'Competent' is the term used by the training system to describe a person who can demonstrate a set of ‘skills and knowledge’.
These skills and knowledge are organised in ‘units’ of competency so that skills and knowledge can be easily identified and recognised. To be recognised as competent the person must demonstrate the relevant unit/s and receive a Statement of Attainment issued by a Registered Training Organisation.
There are minimum units of competency needed to be a Food Safety Supervisor and they vary depending on the food sector. The Victorian government PDF brochure Food Safety Supervisor and training has more detailed information.
Food sector |
Minimum competency standard |
Food processingFood product manufacturers, breweries and wineries |
FDFCORFSY2A ‘Implement the food safety program and procedures” |
RetailSupermarkets, convenience stores, grocers, and delicatessens. Take away and fast food businesses can be considered either retail or hospitality food businesses |
SIRRFSA001A ‘Apply retail food safety practices’ or Use both units from the Hospitality Sector below Earlier training: WRRLP6C ‘Apply retail food safety practices’ |
HospitalityRestaurants, cafes and hotels. Take away and fast food businesses can be considered either retail or hospitality food businesses. |
SITXOHS002A or THHGHS01B ‘Follow workplace hygiene procedures’ SITXFSA001A or THHBCC11B ‘Implement food safety procedures’ or Use unit from the Retail Sector above |
HealthHospitals. |
HLTFS207B ‘Follow basic food safety practices’ HLTFS310B ‘Apply and monitor food safety requirements’ HLTFS309B ‘Oversee the day-to-day implementation of food safety in the workplace’ Earlier training: HLTFS7A ‘Follow basic food safety practices’ HLTFS10A ‘Apply and monitor food safety requirements’ HLTFS9A ‘Oversee the day-to-day implementation of food safety in the workplace’ |
Community servicesChildcare centres, nursing homes, hostels, and Meals on Wheels services. |
Use all three units from the Health sector above. |
Transport and distributionWarehouses. |
Use relevant units from other sectors. |
Links
- Food Safety Supervisor - Frequently Asked Questions
