How should beef be handled prior to cooking it?

Thoroughly wash your hands, cutting boards, utensils, and counter tops with hot, soapy water before
and after handling beef in order to avoid spreading contaminants.  Thoroughly wash the plate or pan the raw beef was on before using it again.  Don’t use wood cutting boards. They provide crevices for bacteria to inhabit.  A cutting board for meat and poultry should be ceramic or dish-washer safe plastic and should be used ONLY for meat and poultry.)
 
Source(s):
Beefsafety.org "Consumer Beef Safety"
Susan Brewer, Ph.D. University of Illinois, Department of Food Safety and Human Nutrition