Removing Protective Clothing prior to using toilet etc.

Removing (or covering) protective clothing prior to using the toilet, canteen or smoking facilities seems sensible enough, however in the BRC Global standard - Food Packaging it is only a best practice guideline. Personally I believe they have not made it a requirement because it is logistically difficult to do. But is this good enough - should personnel be allowed to sit on the toilet wearing protective clothing that may later come into contact with food packaging?

Your risk assessment please.

Regards,
Simon

to sit on the toilet wearing protective clothing

Its as good as not having a good hygiene practices program in place. ........what a major source of cross contamination.

Charles Chew

It's as good as not having a good hygiene practices program in place. ........what a major source of cross contamination.

Charles Chew

I think I agree with you Charles. Whether the risk is more perceived than real I'm not sure about. Remember for packaging the contamination must get from the toilet to the overall then to the hands or direct to the packaging then to the food at a later date. Is it still a major source of cross contamination?

If so then why is it not a requirement of the BRC Packaging Standard?

Do you think a chef in a restaurant will remove his clothes before going to relieve himself?

Regards,
Simon

Simon,

Have you not heard of the "Naked Chef" - check out travel and leasure

CHarles Chew

Have you not heard of the "Naked Chef" - check out travel and leisure 

As a matter of fact I have Charles; I wouldn't want him stirring my soup though. Perhaps a bigger risk to both of us than soiled protective clothing.

Regards,
Simon

I have just returned from conducting a BRC/IOP evaluation in an African country and, as you can imagine, it gets quite hot there in the summer. Consequently, the factory operators wear very little underneath their overalls. So I pose the question: How practical would it be for them to strip off before going to the toilet? I think Simon's point about the number of links in the chain is a very valid one, but fundamentally it is down to the company's hazard and risk management system to identify if this is a real or perceived problem.
perhaps this guidance is more relevant in a food factory than in a packaging factory.

Hi Peter,

We both agree the risk is much less for packaging, but it's still not quite right. I believe this will move from Best Practice to a Requirement for Category B at some point in the future.

Interesting to hear the BRC Standards have extended to Africa.

Regards,
Simon

more relevant in a food factory than in a packaging factory.

As part of the food chain, I would be extremely concern if the product is used for "Primary Packaging" purposes.

Charles Chew