Environmental Hazards

The IFSS Basic Level Environmental Hazards course Introductory knowledge, skills, and abilities related to environmental hazards focusing on sources of contamination and associated control methods.

• Define the properties of environmental hazards.

• Scope: Topics in this course include Foundations of Environmental Hazards, Environmental Hazards of Concern, Sources, Routes, and Pathways, and Control Factors. 

Course Objectives

Foundations of Environmental Hazards

• Define relevant terminology,

• Recognize the consequences of contamination by environmental hazards,

• Identify examples of illnesses or injuries caused by environmental hazards, 

• Identify examples of how a milestone event impacted public policy, and

• Recognize how sampling is used to detect environmental hazards.

Environmental Hazards of Concern

• Identify the categories of environmental hazards,

• Recognize examples of each category of environmental hazards, and

• Recognize where environmental hazards may be introduced into the food supply.

Sources, Routes, and Pathways

• Recognize sources of contamination from environmental hazards, 

• Recognize routes of contamination, and

• Differentiate between intentional and unintentional contamination.

Control Factors

• Define the concept of acceptable levels of exposure,

• Define the purpose of a food safety plan, and 

• Identify examples of preventive controls.

Duration

Unit 1: Foundations of Environmental Hazards – 25 minutes 

Unit 2: Environmental Hazards of Concern – 25 minutes

Unit 3: Sources, Routes, and Pathways – 40 minutes

Unit 4: Control Factors – 25 minutes

Total: 2 hours