The Impact of Limited Essential Skills

One of the chief goals of this research study was to investigate and identify potential essential skills' needs that may impact workers' ability to obtain food safety certification. To collect that data, the research team asked questions to determine:

• what essential skills are required for food safety training
• if employees' had the capability of managing essential skills in training
• whether training modifications were made
• what the potential impact of limited essential skills is on certification

Essential Skills Requirements

To examine the impact of limited essential skills on food safety training, it was important to have a clear picture of what essential skills are necessary. Through conversations with interviewees and observations of a training session along with a review of training materials, the team identified some of the essential skills required for learners to be successful in food safety training and practices. The essential skills are shown under the headings used in the HRSDC (Human Resources Skills Development Canada) Essential Skills Profiles.

Reading

• Reading and understanding the manual and the certification test (test is composed of fifty (50) multiple choice and true/false questions).
• Keeping abreast of new and critical updates such as new legislations or regulations.
• Reading relevant worksite publications, magazines, newspapers and so on.

Oral communication

• Understanding the vocabulary and nuances of training, especially important for English Second Language staff.
• Asking questions and participating in discussions.

Writing

• Taking short notes in a course.

Document use

• Completing checklists, reading charts, indexed lists and temperature grids.
• Completing the multiple choice questions in the certification exam.