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Metal Staples Policy

Started by , Feb 25 2011 08:50 PM
14 Replies
Anyone with any suggestions about a Metal Staple Policy?
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Anyone with any suggestions about a Metal Staple Policy?


Don't allow them on the production floor. I know it is easier said than done but they are a risk and generally should not be allowed. There are "stapleless" mehtods available for holding papers together.
I agree, I was about to say, "ban them". I've worked in several factories with a "no staples" policy in production areas and one factory where they were banned on the whole site. The latter is more foolproof as the occasional lapses do occur but it's more difficult to implement. IME the stapleless stapellers are pretty rubbish and that creates a lot of resistance. Also it might sound silly but your costs on plastic wallets go up if you also ban them in offices.
No problem with the answer to this one, ban staples on the production floor. Don't bother going the staple-less method, simply do not attach sheets of paper together in the factory; let that wait until the office. I would also minimise the amount of loose paper allowed in the production area at any time - easier said than done maybe.
Metal staples.
Just one more puzzle,

It seems some customers do not allow the presence of staples on the secondary/primary packaging(e.g. carton box) ?

Best regards,

Jason

Just one more puzzle,

It seems some customers do not allow the presence of staples on the secondary/primary packaging(e.g. carton box) ?

Best regards,

Jason


I would agree. Where staples are not permitted in production areas it should be all production areas. It's surprising how far these can travel on feet etc.
Just write on your Physical Contaminant policy that they're not allowed in your plant and include on a monthly audit checklist

Anyone with any suggestions about a Metal Staple Policy?

Dear Jason,

Nearly all customers and some stds e.g BRC require that you use no staples.for the packaging materials e.g boxes you need to buy the self locking boxes which do not use staples-contact your packaging materials supplier.Also,you need a metal control policy/procedure where all metals including knives should be controlled making a knive issuing record record with 2hourly checks during production and include that you have a no staples policy.for records you can staple them when archiving but make sure no stapled records passes through the production area.

Regards,
Kamwenji

I totally agree with all the comments made by members that " NO Staples" to be allowed as part of "Foreign Matter Policy" in production and packaging areas.

Eliminate the risk even though one uses a metal detector.

Regards

Ajay Shah

I totally agree with all the comments made by members that " NO Staples" to be allowed as part of "Foreign Matter Policy" in production and packaging areas.

Eliminate the risk even though one uses a metal detector.

Regards

Ajay Shah


It's an interesting experiment to try putting a staple through a metal detector or x-ray. You might say, use a 4mm ferrous test piece and think "yeah, my detector would pick that up no problem" but they frequently don't; maybe because the piece of metal is so thin. That's why you ban them (and as well it's something small and metal that would be available to a consumer intending to make a vexatious complaint or someone intending to contaminate your product). It's much easier to reply to this kind of complaint with information about your "no staple policy" which is regularly audited rather than trying the contaminant through your detection equipment then having a heart stopping moment as it doesn't detect...
Hi GMO

I have tested a staple on a metal detector and it has been detected by our metal detector.

The simple answer is that it depends on the sensitivity of the metal detector. The higher the price you pay for the detection system the better the detections system. One gets for what one pay is the simple answer.

Not every company can afford the Rolls Royce amongst metal detection.

Hi GMO

I have tested a staple on a metal detector and it has been detected by our metal detector.

The simple answer is that it depends on the sensitivity of the metal detector. The higher the price you pay for the detection system the better the detections system. One gets for what one pay is the simple answer.

Not every company can afford the Rolls Royce amongst metal detection.


That's true but also be aware that staples come in different sizes and would a fragment of a staple detect? Personally I'd rather take the easy option (somewhat like banning nuts on site) than have to defend why we didn't. Also it's such a lovely small thing for an annoyed employee to pick up and contaminate your food with (then slip it back onto the line post detector.) Just not worth the hassle IMO.

Also sensitivity depends a lot upon product size and the chemistry of the product including temperature when detected. Even with the best equipment in the world, you wouldn't detect staples in certain products and even if your current products do allow detection, IMO it's always worth designing your equipment and systems with some element of "future proofing" in mind...

Dear Jason,

Nearly all customers and some stds e.g BRC require that you use no staples.for the packaging materials e.g boxes you need to buy the self locking boxes which do not use staples-contact your packaging materials supplier.Also,you need a metal control policy/procedure where all metals including knives should be controlled making a knive issuing record record with 2hourly checks during production and include that you have a no staples policy.for records you can staple them when archiving but make sure no stapled records passes through the production area.

Regards,
Kamwenji


Every decision in the haccp system needs some degree of risk analysis. BRC standard says in 4.8.3.4 (metal control): "If staples or other items are used that may cause contamination in packaging, appropriate precautions shall be taken to minimize the risk of product contamination".

The standard is not saying to ban staples, it talks about risk management, so who is saying that?. The auditor?. Sometimes the auditor suggests things that are not in the standard. The auditor shall stick to the standard and avoid giving his opinion. Is this the case?

Regards.



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