Onboarding new kitchen staff safely in their first week
By the Daybook teamPublished 20 October 2026Last checked 20 October 2026
Covers: England, Wales and Northern Ireland, with notes for Scotland
The short answer
Before a new starter handles food, make sure they know how to wash their hands, when to report illness, and who to ask. In their first week, show them every check they’ll do, and record what you covered.
Before their first shift
- Tell them to report illness before starting work, especially diarrhoea or vomiting
- Explain the dress code: clean clothes, hair tied back, no jewellery on the hands
- Show them the hand-wash basin and how to wash properly
- Tell them who their supervisor is
Day one
- Walk-round: fridges, freezers, dry store, cleaning store, bins
- Raw and ready-to-eat food: where each is kept and prepared
- Colour-coded boards and knives, if you use them
- Clean as you go, and which products to use where
- Where the allergen information is
First week
- Shadow each check they’ll be signing: opening, fridge temps, hygiene, cleaning, closing
- Show them how to probe food and record a reading
- Explain what to do if something is wrong
- Book formal training if their role needs it
- Record what you covered and when
Illness: the 48-hour rule
The Food Standards Agency advises that food handlers with diarrhoea or vomiting should stay away from work with food, normally until 48 hours after symptoms have stopped naturally. Make sure new starters know this, and that they won’t be penalised for reporting it.
Setting them up in Daybook
The owner adds the new person in Team. They pick their face on the Who’s working screen, set their PIN, and every check they sign from day one carries their name.
Free template
Fitness to work record (PDF)
Sources
Rules can change and differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Check with your local authority food safety team if you’re unsure. Daybook helps you keep records. It does not give legal advice or certify training.
Keep this record on your phone
Staff training records, signed and dated.
Daybook is the food safety diary for UK kitchens. Staff sign each check on their own iPhone; the office reads the week and makes an inspection record for any dates.