Employees are not allowed to be at work preparing food if they are ____.

Employees should never prepare food if they are vomiting because it poses a significant health risk to others. Vomiting can lead to contamination of food, surfaces, and equipment, thereby increasing the likelihood of transmission of foodborne illnesses. This is particularly critical in a food service environment, where hygiene and safety are paramount to preventing outbreaks.

While sneezing can also spread pathogens, it is typically acceptable for employees to wear a mask or use other hygiene measures to mitigate this risk. Fatigue does affect performance but does not directly lead to foodborne illness, and talking is part of regular communication in a workplace and is generally not a legal or health concern unless it interferes with hygiene practices.