Essential Food Safety

Training & Certification

(EFST) Program
Protocol Overview

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Introduction
The aim of this Guide is to provide an overview of
the following:

• The EFST Program, including:

• The Training Protocol
• The Examination and Certification Protocol
• The Inspection Protocol
• Overall EFST Workflow
• Overall Reporting Workflow
• Overall Auditing Workflow
• Overall Inspection Workflow
© 2008 ADAFSA.
EFST Program

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 EFST Program Protocol
Training Protocol
covers the processes, tasks and deliverables
required for the training itself I.e. the syllabus,
training materials, delivery workflow etc.

Examination Protocol
This area covers the processes, tasks and
deliverables required to structure and control the
assessment and certification of the trainees.

Inspection Protocol
This area covers the processes, tasks and
deliverables required to support the post-training
inspection of businesses.
© 2008 ADAFSA.
 EFST Program Scope
 Provide food handlers with knowledge and understanding of food safety that
will ensure that food is handled safely in food businesses throughout Abu Dhabi.

 Syllabus defined based on global best practice, and will form the basis for
training materials developed by the pre-approved training providers.

 Food handlers will undertake a minimum of a six-hour classroom-based

training course and will be issued with a Record of Attendance.

 Trainees will subsequently be required to attend an approved Examination

Centre and undertake a short, multiple-choice examination (1hour).

 Successful completion of the examination will result in an Essential Food

SafetyTraining Certificate being issued to the trainee.

 Inspectors will assist with the evaluation of the Training Program and will
collect data during routine visits to food businesses.
© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Historical Background
 EFST project was initiated in July 2007
 RFP document was prepared and launched in August 2007
 Proposals were evaluated in October 2007
 Negotiations and meeting with Training providers Nov-Dec 2007
EFST protocol was prepared, reviewed and finalized in Mar 2008
 Joint meeting with Training providers & Exam Center in Apr 2008
 Agreements signatures in May 2008
 Preparation & review of training material in Jun-Jul 2008
 Launching EFST- Live Kick off in 10 Aug 2008
© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Launching Plan
Training material – Final in 3 Languages on 3 Aug 2008

Field Visits – Training & Exam Centers ( 4 - 8 Aug 2008)

Official Launching Date 10 August 2008

 EFST Steering team- Queries to EFST@adfca.ae

Mandatory Cumulative % of Trained Food handlers:

10 % -Year 2008 (August till December)
40% - Year 2009
60% - Year 2010
80% - Year 2011
100% -Year 2012 © 2008 ADAFSA.
Training Protocol

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Overview
The high level elements of the Training Protocol are :

• Training Syllabus / Curriculum

• Training Method
• Training Classroom Size & Session Numbers
• Training Material
• Trainer Application and Registration Form
• Trainee Registration Form
• Training Pre-assessment Questionnaire
• Trainee Feedback Form
• Trainer Status Report
• Trainer Assessment Protocol
• Training Record of Attendance

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Training Syllabus Overview
Essential Food Safety

 A new training course developed by ADFCA.

 Includes the four essential pillars for safe food handling:

Cleaning Cooking Safely Chilling Safely
Avoid Cross contamination

 The course is mandatory for all food handlers involved in the

FOOD CHAIN (preparation, processing, cooking, packaging, storage,
transportation, distribution, selling and service of food or donating food)
for the purpose of human consumption.

© 2008 ADAFSA.
Training Syllabus

© 2008 ADAFSA.
Training Syllabus

© 2008 ADAFSA.
Training Syllabus

© 2008 ADAFSA.
Training Syllabus

© 2008 ADAFSA.
Training Syllabus

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Method & Sessions Rules
Training Method
•Trainer-led classroom activity or other method approved by EFST.
• Contact time will be a minimum of six hours with revision activities to
assess effectiveness of learning outcomes

Class Size: Max. of 15 trainees/class (best educational practice)

Language: At least three main languages (Training & Handouts)

including Arabic & English

Special Needs
Reasonable accommodations for trainees with disabilities including the
provision of culturally, developmentally and linguistically appropriate
training.
© 2008 ADAFSA.
Trainer Registration Form

Submitted by
Training
Centers for all
Trainers,
including
Qualifications
, for EFST
team review.

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Trainee Registration Form

 To be completed by each trainee upon start of session

 Capture relevant baseline data such as age, gender, nationality,

language skills, Place of work & Job Title.

 It is the responsibility of the trainer to ensure all trainees

complete this form.

 The trainer will collect the forms and send them, along with the
Pre-assessment Questionnaires to EFST team.

© 2008 ADAFSA.
Trainee Registration Form

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Pre-assessment Questionnaire

Each trainee shall complete a Pre-assessment Questionnaire

at the beginning of the training session.

It aims to gather baseline data on trainee knowledge, to allow

subsequent comparison against exam results.

It is the responsibility of the trainer to ensure all trainees

complete it. The trainer will collect the forms and send them,
along with the Trainee Registration Form to the EFST team.

© 2008 ADAFSA.
Pre-assessment Questionnaire

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Training Feedback Form

 Each trainee will complete a

Trainee Feedback Form.
 It will be the responsibility of the
trainer to ensure all trainees
complete feedback forms.
 Once completed, the trainer will
submit the forms, along with the
Trainer Status Report to the EFST
team.

The forms will allow the EFST team

to gauge the trainee perspective on
the training.
© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Trainer Status Report

Each trainer will complete a Trainer

Status Report per session. Once
complete the trainer will submit it,
along with the Trainee Feedback
Forms to the EFST team.

The forms provide information to

the central team from a trainer
perspective.

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Record of Attendance

Training Record of Attendance

Once a trainee has attended the

training, they will receive a
Record of Attendance.

This will be provided by the

trainer at the end of each
training session.

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Equivalence
Equivalence Application submitted to EFST team for review, with;

 Introductory letter
 Company profile including no. and type of food outlets/activities
 No. & Education level of Food handlers (w/n in-house training)
 Executive summary on the in-house training with high-level
content. The summary shall also contain information including
date and period of training, no. of employees per session,
learning means used by the trainer
 Copy of the actual training material in English/Arabic that was
instructed to the food handlers (both in one Electronic and one
hard copy) & references used in developing the training material
 Detailed Curriculum vitae/ resume of the in-house/freelance
trainer or the subcontracted training company which conducted
the in-house training
© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Equivalence
 Copy of the handouts, if any, that were distributed to the food
handlers during the in-house training
 Any awareness programs or printouts that are used for staff
continuous education

A detailed review shall be conducted by EFST team which may involve

further clarifications
Review process may last for about 30 days. If approval Granted, then
food handlers will be required to undertake the Exam/ Assessment
and
If Food handler pass the required minimum exam score, they will be
issued the (EFST) certificate, otherwise, required to undergo
training.
© 2008 ADAFSA.
© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Audit Evaluation Form
To allow evaluation of individual trainer performance, sessions
will be observed by a member of the EFST team.

© 2008 ADAFSA.
Audit Evaluation Form

© 2008 ADAFSA.
© 2008 ADAFSA.
Exam & Certification Protocol

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Overview

The following slides define the high level elements of the

Examination Protocol.

The elements defined are the following:

• Examination Centre Protocol
• Examination Papers

The Examination Centre Protocol provides instructions for the

preparation and conduct of examinations at Approved Examination
Center.

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Examination Centre Protocol
The Protocol covers the following areas:

• Examination Centre management

• Examination papers
• Candidate registration
• Accommodation
• Conducting an examination: Before
• Conducting an examination: Beginning
• Conducting an examination: During
• Conducting an examination: End
• Marking and dissemination of results
• Security of exam papers
• Notice to examination candidates
• Instructions for candidates
• Examination attendance sheet
• Examination result list
© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Examination Centre Management

• An Examinations Administrator should be identified at each

Examination Centre.
• The Examination Administrator should have responsibility for the
receipt, storage, issue of papers and security at all stages.
• Appropriate record keeping should be in place to provide
traceability delivery, receipt, storage and issue of examination
papers.
• An appropriate number of invigilators should be identified and
trained.
• Examiners should be appointed for marking the examination
papers. A Moderator should be appointed to oversee the
process.

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Examination Papers

• The examination paper is comprised of 30 multi-choice questions.

• Candidate instructions are clearly printed on first page of paper.
• The examination paper is printed to allow blank pages for any
rough work candidates may wish to do. No additional paper is
required.
• Examination papers require candidates to insert their name and
unique identification number.
• All pages of the examination paper should be securely bound
together.
• Completed examination papers should be retained for a 12-
month period.

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Candidate Registration

• All candidates should be registered prior to the examination.

• Candidate instructions should be provided prior to attendance at
the examination centre.
• A timetable of examination dates and location should be
available to prospective candidates.
• Where candidates register for an examination on-line this should
be easily accessible with clear instructions.
• Facilities for pre-payment for the examination should be made.

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Examination Accomodation

• Ventilation, heating, lighting and noise level of the examination

room should be suitable for optimum concentration.
• Accessible toilet facilities should be available located where entry
and exit can be monitored
• Any relevant display materials on walls (e.g. wall charts, maps,
diagrams) must not be visible to candidates during examination.
• Candidates chairs must be spaced at a minimum distance of 1.25
metres apart.
• Candidates chairs must face the same forward direction.
• Each candidate should have a separate desk large enough for the
examination materials.
• The examination room must be clearly marked and desks
allocated with candidate identification numbers

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Conducting an Exam- Tips
Conducting an examination: Before

o Invigilators must be familiar with all examination instructions before the start of
any examination session.
o At least one invigilator must be present for each 30 candidates.
o Invigilators should be suitably qualified members of staff and not be trainees.
o Candidates should be instructed to be in attendance 15 minutes before the time
the examination is to start.
o Candidates should have clear instructions regarding any resources they are
allowed to take into the examination room.
o Candidates should provide appropriate identification and this should be
checked and verified, for example: ID card, passport, driving license.
o Mobile phones should not be allowed in the examination room at any time.
o A candidate attendance sheet should be completed before the examination
process begins.

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Conducting an Exam- Tips
Conducting an examination: Beginning

o Examinations should not take place unless the required numbers of trained
invigilators are in attendance.
o No candidate shall be admitted after 5 minutes before the examination starts.
o Examinations should be strictly timed and there should be a clock available in
the examination room visible to all candidates.
o Examination instructions should be read aloud to candidates before the start of
the examination

Conducting an examination: During

o The invigilator(s) should observe the candidates at all times during the Exam.
o There should be no talking or discussion during the course of the examination,
o No discussion should be allowed at any stage once the examination has started.

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Conducting an Exam- Tips

Conducting an examination: End

• Candidates should be told when there is 15 minutes left of the examination time.
• At the end of the examination, candidates should be reminded to ensure that they
have put their names and ID details clearly in the space provided on the examination
script.
• Candidates should be instructed to leave their examination papers on their desks
before leaving the examination room.
• Examination scripts should be collected immediately and placed in an envelope,
sealed and signed over the flap, by the senior invigilator.
• Examination papers should be put into safe storage immediately after collection.

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Marking Exam Papers
Marking Examination Papers

• Papers should be marked by an

approved examiner.
• A results list should be compiled and
approved by the moderator.
• The results list should be copied and
sent to the EFST Team.
• Candidates should be notified of their
results and certificates issued.

Security of examination papers

As part of ‘Centre Management’ this form
should be used to ensure the examination
papers remain secure
© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Notice to Exam Candidates

These instructions should be

made available to candidates
prior to examination.

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Instructions to Candidates

These instructions should be

read out by the supervisor
before the start of examination.

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Examination Attendance Sheet

This sheet should be completed

to indicate the attendees of a
given examination session.

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Examination Result List

This sheet should be

completed to indicate the
results attained by the
attendees of a given
examination session.

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Examination Papers
A total of five examination
papers have been created for
the EFST Examination.

Each paper has 30 multiple

choice questions, covering a
calculated proportion of
questions per area within the
curriculum.

Exam papers are available in

Arabic, English, Hindi, Urdu,
Malayalam, Bengali in addition
to Oral exam facilities
© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Management Arrangements
 The Exam center shall provide a continuous phone booking service
 The Exam center shall be responsible on providing the 5- Exam
sheet templates in English Arabic and Hindi Languages
 The frequency of conducting the exam sessions shall be a
minimum of three times a week in Abu Dhabi and one time a week
in Al Ain
 The Exam sessions shall be available to the candidates in a
minimum of three languages (Arabic, English and Hindi).
 Each exam session requires the use of, at least, 2 exam templates
 The Exam center will be authorized to use ADFCA Logo and issue
the Certificate to the candidates who have passed the exam
successfully, as per the approved certificate design template.

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Management Arrangements
 The trainees list will be provided to the exam center directly
through the approved ADFCA training providers. No
examination activity shall be undertaken candidates unless:
 - Either; candidates are enlisted in the trainee list provided by
the approved training providers and have issued the record of
attendance
 - Or; candidates are enlisted within the approved “Equivalency”
lists provided by ADFCA directly to the Exam center
 The candidates who failed to pass the exam for the first time
are entitled for one more trial to directly undertake the exam.
If such candidate(s) fails again, then they are required to be
subjected to a revision session by the training provider prior to
undertaking the exam again.

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Management Arrangements
 Food handlers with higher degrees in food safety or related
field shall be exempted from both training and examination,
subject to ADFCA’s approval. In such case, ADFCA will issue the
“Exemption” list of candidates to the Exam center where the
later will Directly issue the EFST certificate without the need to
undertake the exam, at 50% of the agreed upon fees.
 The exam center shall required to submit weekly reports in
electronic format to ADFCA as per the acknowledge reporting
template
 All correspondences with ADFCA including reporting, enquiries
shall be done to efst@adfca.ae. Moreover, ADFCA shall avail
an emergency contact number for the exam center

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 ESFT Training Certificate
Once a trainee has passed the
examination at minimum score
of 70, they will receive a
Certificate.

Exam Center shall issue

Certificate on behalf of ADFCA
with a Passport size photo of
certified food handler

Validity of the Certificate is

THREE Years from Date of
Issuance © 2008 ADAFSA.
 Exemptions
* High level Qualifications:
i.e. University Degrees (B.Sc., Diploma, M.Sc., M.A., PhD)

* Other Approved Qualifications: TBD

Food Handler shall submit copy of certificate and proof of content to

EFST team

Direct Issuance of EFST Certificate at 50% of the set Exam fees

© 2008 ADAFSA.
© 2008 ADAFSA.
© 2008 ADAFSA.
Inspection Protocol

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Overview
The following slides define the high level elements of the Inspection
Protocol.

The element defined is the Routine Food Inspection Evaluation

Protocol

Outline how the Inspections of ‘trained’ businesses will take place

after the training delivery.

(EFST) program is to be evaluated using a wide range of outcome

measures. One part of this process will be the collection of specific
information Food Inspectors during routine visits. Inspectors will be
required to collect data on their first visit to a business after the
start of the Program and subsequently at 6 monthly intervals.
© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Routine Food Inspection Evaluation Protocol

Data collected will be forwarded to

EFST team for analysis.
Regular evaluation reports will be
generated and made available to
Inspectors.

• Data collection - First visit

• Data collection - Subsequent visits
• Reporting Mechanism
• Business Training Profile Form
• Food Safety Documentation & Record
Keeping Form
• Manager Food Safety Questionnaire
© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Data Collection
No. of food handlers & level of responsibility.

Businesses should keep a record of all employees who are trained.

(including name, training venue, date of training, date of examination and
certification number w copies of the EFST Certificates).

• A list of food safety documents and/or records should be compiled.

• Food manager will be asked to complete a short questionnaire.

• The Inspector is requested to take three digital photographs:

• Photograph 1: A typical food handler in the business
• Photograph 2: The inside of a general-purpose refrigerator.
• Photograph 3: A hand-wash basin used in food production area.

• A copy of the routine inspection

© 2008report.
ADAFSA.
 Reporting Mechanism

Inspectors should forward electronic and/or hard copies of the

required information to the EFST Team within 7 days of the
Inspection.

In addition, concerns raised during any routine inspection by either

the business or the inspector related to the quality of the ESFT
program should be forwarded, in writing, to the EFST Team.

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Business Training Profile Form

This form should be used to

document the number of
employees involved in food
production, the level of
responsibility and the EFST
undertaken

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Documentation & Record Keeping

This form should be used to compile

a list of food safety documents
and/or records for each food
establishment.

© 2008 ADAFSA.
 Food Safety Manager Questionnaire

This questionnaire is to be used in during the first visit.

If the person responsible fails to answer all the questions
correctly, it must also be used on subsequent visits.

© 2008 ADAFSA.
© 2008 ADAFSA.
THANK YOU

© 2008 ADAFSA.