Chemical storage requirements in Food processing

We are a food processing facility and have in the past, been storing our chemicals (soap, sanitizers, foam cleaners, bleach, etc.) in a mezzanine in the processing facility. At our last audit, they said these things need to ALL be locked up, including our bathroom cleaners. We have the cleaners that are being used "down-stairs" locked in a cabinet but all the surplus supplies are not. Does anyone have some guidance on this as to: Do we have to get a huge storage locker to lock all these drums and jugs in? Can we just place a "lock" chain at the top of the stairs (it has no door)? What are the exact requirement and does anyone have storage suggestion (retailers) if we have to go that route?

Thanks!

I have enjoyed reading all the posts and will now be an active poster I am sure.

Hi,

these activities should come under the chemical control programme, which is designed to protect our product from chemical cross contamination.

as per the PAS 220 standard the requirement is 'A sparate, secure (locked or otherwise aces controlled ) storage area shall be provided for cleaning materials, chemicals and other hazadous substances'

We are a food processing facility and have in the past, been storing our chemicals (soap, sanitizers, foam cleaners, bleach, etc.) in a mezzanine in the processing facility. At our last audit, they said these things need to ALL be locked up, including our bathroom cleaners. We have the cleaners that are being used "down-stairs" locked in a cabinet but all the surplus supplies are not. Does anyone have some guidance on this as to: Do we have to get a huge storage locker to lock all these drums and jugs in? Can we just place a "lock" chain at the top of the stairs (it has no door)? What are the exact requirement and does anyone have storage suggestion (retailers) if we have to go that route?

Thanks!

I have enjoyed reading all the posts and will now be an active poster I am sure.

Hi,
The idea is to secure the chemicals against any unauthorsed use so that food does not get contaminated knowingly or unknowingly.
You need to prove to your auditor that arrangements made to secure the chemicala are fool proof and there is unauthorised access to the storage area.

Hope it helps.

Thanks

Gourav

Dear Kajumom,

Chemicals need to be stored in a separate, secured storage room, with good ventilation and containers to prevent leakage.
Please do also check the local legislation regarding environment and hazardous products.

If I, as an auditor, can reach the chemicals, it will also be reachable to staff members and visitors with bad intentions.
This is a risk to your product and your facility.

Agree with all comments made ahead of me. Easy access can lead to incidental or planned contamination of finished product and we do not want that to ever happen. Recalls are not part of good business. Our plant has a chemical storage room for all facility cleaning chemicals which has limited access. Janitorial cleaning equipment has its own locked room near office and washroom/locker area, again access is limited to those who need access only.

Hello,

 

We use cages locked (with a padlock) for chemicals, I think they're relatively inexpensive and can fit into the bays of any existing warehouse / racking you've currently got.

 

If you really have so much stock of cleaning chemicals, could you get a carpenter to install a lockable door to the stairs to the mezzanine area?

 

Tom

I agree with Madame A.D-tor.

 

Some popular Sanitising / Production chemicals are inflammable and potentially explosive.

 

Location / Interactions need to be risk assessed bit many companies simply do not wish to waste "useful" space.

 

Rgds / Charles.C

^{Apart from those which need to be stored securely because of flammability for example, I prefer to have items securely locked away out of sight for main storage, but in locked visible cages wherever regular access is needed.  That way, anybody entering is clearly visible, one can see what they are doing and the area can be more easily monitored from a 5S standpoint}

^Regards,

^Philip

In a past life we contructed a chain link fence area (simlar to your mezzanine) as it could be designed to match our space.  Currently we use and expandable gate on wheels that is fastened on one side of wall and can be pulld open/colsed as materials are needed.  Keys are stored with supervisor/lead person on shift. 

 

I see this is an old post but if others have creative ideas I would like to hear them.

G