The Oak Bluffs board of health began this week to post restaurant inspection reports on the town web site. Town health officials said posting reports is an effort to encourage better compliance with food safety regulations.
Health agent Shirley Fauteux began the effort with the approval of the board of health members.
“The majority of the food establishments are very good,” Ms. Fauteux told The Times. “There are a few repeat offenders.”
Ms. Fauteux said her office receives more and more requests from summer visitors who want to know if a particular restaurant has been cited for violations. Now that information will be available online.
Food establishments are subject to a $500 fine for repeated violations, but the board of health is in the process of changing the fine structure.
Under the new rules, violators would be fined $100, and $50 dollars for each additional day the violation continues until it is corrected.
Ms. Fauteux said common repeat violations include employees failing to wear hair nets, failure to handle food properly, and failure to keep food preparation areas clean. Also among the common violations is failure to have a ServSafe certified person on duty. The town requires at least one person with the certification to be on duty at all times.
The town’s web site is at oakbluffsma.gov.
