Washington Administrative Code
Title 246 - Health, Department of
SHELLFISH
Chapter 246-282 - Sanitary control of shellfish
Section 246-282-060 - Personal health and cleanliness

(1) Any person ill with or the carrier of a communicable disease which is transmissible through food and is in the infectious stage may not work in any growing area, shucking, packing or repacking plant in any capacity where that person might contaminate the shellfish or food contact surfaces with pathogenic organisms. The owner, the person in charge, and the employee are all responsible for compliance with the requirements of this section.

(2) Any person who is an owner, a person in charge, or an employee of a shellfish operation must practice good personal cleanliness while handling shellfish. These persons must wash their hands thoroughly with soap and water before starting to handle shellfish and as often as is necessary to remove filth and soil that might contaminate shellfish.

(3) If the department determines by investigation that an owner or employee of a shellfish operation might be the source of a foodborne illness transmitted through shellfish, then the secretary may require medical examination of that person and laboratory examination of clinical specimens from that person to determine presence of infection. Any person failing to obtain an examination required by the secretary may not work for a shellfish operation, for a period of time the department determines that person could be infectious, in any capacity that could result in contamination of shellfish with pathogenic organisms.