5 replies to this topic

[ladytygrr]

Hi everyone, 

 

I didn't see a thread that addressed this specific question but apologies if I missed it. 

 

We are reviewing our SOPs and cleaning schedule; these were all written before I came on board here. There is an SOP written that all of the trash receptacles in the building are to be emptied, cleaned and power washed weekly. The way it's written, the power washing is to be done on the production floor after production ends (we make RTE snacks in case that matters). 

 

Even though we are very clean - our guy in charge of cleaning and sanitation is AWESOME - it seems like this is something that shouldn't happen.

 

Am I being too strict/OCD/etc.? What does everyone else do?

 

Thank you!

 

~Emily~

[Mr. Incognito]

Do you have a sanitation room with your chemicals?  We used one to clean things like garbages.  It had a low sink so it was easy to clean big things.

[Setanta]

I presume you do sanitation at the end of your production day, correct? I would make a plan to do those first thing during the sanitation shift on the last day of production for the week.  You can do them in the your production area, them move to cleaning the equipment. 

 

I suppose I should ask if you are cleaning with water and chemicals at the end of each day, first...

[ladytygrr]

Mr. I: our sanitation sinks are in our production area and our chemicals are stored near the sanitation sinks.

 

Setanta: Yes, we clean and sanitize (with water and chemicals) all food contact surfaces at the end of the production run each day. We have a power washer and a drain right by our sanitizer sinks and it is in this area the currently written SOP indicates we're supposed to clean our trash receptacles.  I do like your idea, Setanta, about making it the first thing to do after production ends on the last day of the week. Right now, we just say "weekly" and don't specify any certain day. I'll see if I can affect that change. 

 

Thanks to you both for your replies. I guess I am being a little too over-bearing but I'm on high alert for anything that is a no-no since we're trying to get SQF level 2 certified by the end of the year and I'm still so new to this life.

 

~Emily~

[Setanta]

No worries, Emily, we've been there before.  It is better if you can specify a day or time when it is done and then document that it occurs. We use plastic pallet in a couple of spots and we have a cleaning log as to when they get cleaned. That sheet is turned in monthly.

[ladytygrr]

No worries, Emily, we've been there before.  It is better if you can specify a day or time when it is done and then document that it occurs. We use plastic pallet in a couple of spots and we have a cleaning log as to when they get cleaned. That sheet is turned in monthly.

Good idea. I keep bringing up things that I learn here (we need to be more specific, we need to test X thing, etc.) and am getting push back. I'm learning that I can talk and cajole all I want but I may just need to leave it to when we have our audit to get certified and we don't pass. But I'm making sure I get as much of it in writing as possible so I can defend myself for when I'm questioned why we didn't pass!