When must a licensed weigher and sampler wash and dry their hands?

The requirement for a licensed weigher and sampler to wash and dry their hands immediately before taking samples is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the sampling process. Hand hygiene is essential to prevent contamination of the samples being collected. When a sampler prepares to take material samples, any residual dirt, bacteria, or contaminants on their hands can easily compromise the quality and accuracy of the samples. This can lead to inaccurate test results, which may affect decisions made based on those samples.

This practice is not only a standard hygiene protocol but also a regulatory requirement to ensure that the sampling process is conducted in a clean and controlled manner. Ensuring hands are clean before beginning sampling helps safeguard against cross-contamination that could potentially alter the properties of the material being tested, leading to erroneous conclusions about the commodity’s quality.

The remaining options do not emphasize the importance of washing hands immediately prior to the sampling process, which is critical in ensuring sample integrity and accuracy.