Ohio requires each food service operation to have a certified Person in Charge and, for risk-level III and IV operations, a certified manager. Cincinnati Health Department enforces these training rules during routine inspections.
Under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 3717 and Ohio Administrative Code 3717-1, every Cincinnati food service operation must have a Person in Charge present during all hours of operation who can demonstrate food safety knowledge. Higher-risk operations classified as Risk Level III or IV must employ at least one manager who has completed an ANSI-accredited certification course such as ServSafe. The certification is valid for five years. The Cincinnati Health Department checks for current certificates during routine inspections and can require immediate retraining when violations indicate gaps. Food handler training for line staff is encouraged but not separately mandated by city ordinance.
Operating without a certified Person in Charge or, for Level III and IV operations, without a certified manager can result in inspection violations, follow-up enforcement, and potential license suspension under state and city food code.
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