Employee Health and Hygiene

The following "Big Six" illnesses are related to contaminated food that can be transmitted by yourself, your employees, and your customers. These illnesses should be well known by yourself and your staff.

• Norovirus: Symptoms typically occur 24-48 hours after exposure.
• Typhoid Fever: Symptoms typically occur 1-3 weeks after exposure.
• Shigella: Symptoms typically occur 1-2 days after exposure.
• E. Coli: Symptoms typically occur 3-4 days after exposure.
• Salmonella: Symptoms typically occur 6-72 hours after exposure.
• Hepatitis A: Symptoms typically occur 2-7 weeks after exposure.

The "Big Six" illnesses have a set of symptoms that you and your staff should be on the lookout for. These symptoms include fatigue, diarrhea, fever, chills, nausea and/or vomiting, and abdominal pain. As you see above, symptoms may present themselves at different times depending on the illness you have developed. Even after symptoms disappear, you may still be carrying the illness with you. If so, the illness could return, or you could pass the disease to other people.

Note: These illnesses all require a medical diagnosis. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please seek medical care.

Reporting Illnesses

1. Report any incident of these symptoms to a manager immediately. All ill employees should be dismissed while experiencing these symptoms and should not return to work for at least 24 hours after symptoms have gone. Employees should be encouraged to seek medical care.
2. Record all employee reports of illness in an employee illness log.
3. Notify your local health department of any employee diagnosed with any of the illnesses listed above (Call 563-589-4181).

Employee health forms can be found here:
Employee Health Reporting Form
Employee Health Reporting Form (Spanish)