This class is based on the California Health and Safety Code. All violations observed by the Registered Environmental Health Specialist (the inspector) during routine restaurant inspections are based on these regulations, as well as various County codes.

We are certain you will benefit from the time spent on this course and, in turn, the public will benefit from your knowledge of safe food handling techniques.

As a food service worker, you are the first line of defense to prevent foodborne illnesses, also known as FBIs. You have a huge responsibility to the public to follow basic personal hygiene principles and practice basic food safety and sanitation rules in order to prevent FBIs.

Anyone can contract a foodborne illness, but certain groups of people are more susceptible to contracting foodborne illnesses. Children, the elderly, pregnant women and people whose immune systems are compromised by diseases such as cancer, liver disease or AIDS, are more likely to be affected by a foodborne illness as compared to the general population. However, you have a responsibility to serve everyone safe food.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every year 76 million people become ill from foodborne illnesses, 325,000 are hospitalized and about 5,000 die each year in the United States.

We know you want to do your part in protecting the public's health and we urge you to take deep responsibility, as well as great pride, in serving safe food to the public.

Thank you for joining Environmental Health Services and Loma Linda University in reaching our goal of educating food service workers and reducing foodborne illness outbreaks.

Here a few instructions about this course. Please be prepared to set aside 1-1/2 hours for the course. If you stop the DVD in the middle you will have to begin the course over from the beginning. If you stop the course on your computer, and plan to return to the same spot later, do not close out the program but simply minimize the screen.

Prior to viewing this course, please print out the worksheet. As you view the course, fill out the worksheet. Filling out the worksheet and writing out the correct answers will help you to remember what you are viewing. And yes, it is like doing homework! Use the worksheet to study for the test. By the way, you will not be allowed to bring the worksheet with you into the testing area.

If you have viewed the required FIRST training class and studied the worksheet, you will be ready to come in to one of our offices to take the test. Please bring your California driver's license, California ID, or student ID with you and a pencil to write with. The test is available in English and Spanish. There is a $10 fee to take the test which will be 50 questions (true/false and multiple choice.) A passing score is 40 or more correct answers. Once you have passed the test, a $10 fee must be paid for the two (2) Certified Food Worker cards. All fees must be paid in CASH only and exact change is required. The card will be valid for three (3) years. Should you lose your Certified Food Worker card, you will be required to take the test again in order to obtain a new card.

We're not expecting you to fail the test but if you do fail and there is sufficient time left during scheduled testing hours, we will give you the opportunity to study a printed copy of the course and you may retake another version of the test that same day. If there is insufficient time to retake the test that same day or if you fail the test twice, you must come back on another day and you will be required to pay the $10 test fee again.

Testing sites, testing hours and fees are listed on our web site at www.sbcounty.gov/dehs. If you do not have access to the internet, you may call 1-800-442-2283 for more information.

Our testing area is reserved only for those taking the test, so please do not bring children.

Thank you.