Latest news with #TobinCook
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Decade of Guernsey food hygiene score has 'positive' impact
More than a decade of openly rating food outlets has helped improve food hygiene across Guernsey, according to the director of Environmental "scores on the doors" food hygiene scheme was introduced in 2014. Prior to that, ratings were not visibly to the Cook said it had been, "a really positive system"."The level of compliance we're getting with businesses achieving really good, high-star ratings is really very impressive," he added. "Currently we have around 800 food businesses registered with us and we only have seven which, at this point in time, are achieving less than three stars." Mr Cook said it was a way to, "reward" businesses achieving those ratings and "for those that aren't achieving, it gives the public the right to make a choice, to have an informed decision on whether they're comfortable with going in there". What are businesses graded on? Officers inspect three main areas:Hygienic food handling practicesCleanliness and the condition of the facilities and buildingManagement of food safetyMr Cook said the practices looked at include "how the business is safely storing food, preparing food and serving food".They then look at "the fabric of the building itself and also the cleanliness", and then look at the paperwork, which "is their hazard analysis, looking at where problems could arise and how they're preventing that and the checks that they're doing", Mr Cook explained. Garin Dart, general manager of La Pommier Hotel, said, "it's a small island and people do really care, if you're operating a food business you should be getting the best ratings possible".The hotel has a current five-star hygiene rating and Mr Dart explained "a lot more goes into it than people think".Mr Dart says he uses a system that helps staff keep track of all the tasks they need to complete to stay up to date."We also have it on everybody's mobile phone as an app and it will alert them [of the tasks].""We digitalise it to make sure that, one, that it's being done correctly, and two, that we can follow it up with any training if it's not being done correctly," he said.
BBC News
27-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Rental homes to be made 'safe' under new law
A new law designed to ensure that rental homes are safe and fit for purpose was due to come into effect on legislation was passed by the States of Deliberation in March and is part of work being carried out to tackle Guernsey's "significant housing pressures".Providing safe drinking water, ensuring buildings are structurally sound and complying with fire safety requirements would be set as minimum standards for rental accommodation.A Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) will also come into effect to assess the impact of hazards such as damp and mould, excess heat and cold, lighting and risk of falls. 'Dangerous homes' The States said more measures would be introduced so that less serious issues could be addressed without needing "heavy enforcement".Tobin Cook, director of environmental health and pollution regulation, said the move was a "crucial step to improving the quality of homes" on Guernsey's rental market."There are many well looked after and safe units of rental accommodation but there are still people who are living in entirely unsafe and dangerous homes," he said."This legislation provides a proportionate way to work with landlords to see the quality of our housing stock improve across the island, making more homes available to be safely lived in."
