Health Hazard: licking fingers

As a retired public health officer I am behooved to report a practice often used by cashiers at local establishments. This unsanitary practice involves the licking of fingers before pulling out money from the register and handing the change to the customer.

Additionally, I have been astonished to see the practice of licking finders to separate plastic bags which are difficult to open. This can be the cause of colds and stomach issues; probably more for the cashier but the general public as well. In the absence of a pandemic flu or other epidemic infection this is annoying to anyone who notices but potentially a practice which may prove serious in an outbreak or major flu year.

This practice can be easily remedied by requiring cashiers to use a sponge or moisture pad. In addition, a policy statement issued by the employer would go a long way to protect the cashiers and the public. Finally, notifying management of this practice is something customers can do to help spread the word and prevent exposure to pathogens.

This story was originally published August 5, 2016 at 8:34 AM with the headline "Health Hazard: licking fingers."