6 replies to this topic

[a3276988]

Greetings IFSQN world.

We are about to undergo a BRC v6 audit and currently have multiple members of our administrative staff with non-conformance of clause 7.3.3.

They work in an office, which they can only access by walking through the changing area.

Their job description/responsibilites does not involve them entering the production area (there is a protective barrier between them and the warehouse).

We currently require our office-based employees to adhere to the PPE requirements across the site (safety shoes, protective overalls, hair nets, snoods, etc.)

Would a non-conformance of clause 7.3.3 by office-based staff (while in the office) be a point for the auditor?

Outside of issuing a ban on all jewellry/piercings on non-production staff, what actions can we take to ensure this is not an issue?

[Madam A. D-tor]

Dear a3276988,

I am not quite sure if I understand what you mean.

7.3.3There shall be documented procedures for employees, contractors and visitors, relating to action to be taken where they may be suffering from or have been in contact with an infectious disease. Expert medical advice shall be sought where required.
So are you saying that for the office people:
1) you do not have a documented procedure? or
2) you do not take action when they are suffering from infectious diseases?

ad 2: If one of the office persons have norovirus/ paratyphus/ salmonellosis/ etc, would you like them to come to work, sit in the office area, come in the canteen, uses the toilets the other workers are using/ etc and become a risk to your other workers and to your products?.

I think you might be meaning something else...? Can you please explain? can you also inform us what your business/process/product is?

[D-D]

Looks to me like the question relates to V5 7.3.3 (watches and jewellery)... Oops?

[Madam A. D-tor]

Looks to me like the question relates to V5 7.3.3 (watches and jewellery)... Oops?

@ D-D, you must be right

@ a3276988
If these staff is wearing jewellry ONLY in the office. There is IMO no problem. But... If they go to toilet/ canteen/ outside through production/storage area, they should wear none.

[Charles.C]

Dear All,

Wonder what the product/process is .

I would hv thought the logical solution was to re-design the entrance logistics.

Maybe i hv misunderstood the OP but this seems a rather bizarre (Unisex?) arrangement to me. I presume the implication is that the company do not trust the office personnel to non-venture (somehow) into the production area / cross-contaminate other workers at (very) long range.? Management Issues ?

Rgds / Charles.C

[GMO]

I assume you mean 7.2.1 so to answer that question, the office staff have an office off the changing area, not the production area right?

If this is an entrance for low risk production then I'd say there's no issue.

If this is an entrance for high care / high risk then is there a method whereby you could put a segregated (i.e. with a barrier) walkway to the office so they don't have to go through all of the changing requirements (shoes, hairnets, no jewellery). You know your site better than I do. If there isn't then you do have a problem. Also I would argue that if your audit is soon, there's probably not enough time to get it in place beforehand.

Personally, if it is high care or high risk, I'd be pragmatic. Ask the office staff to comply for the audit and promise them you will find an alternative long term solution afterwards. (You could even explain to the auditor that you've brought this rule in for office staff but wanted to ask their opinion on whether it was overkill.) As others have suggested, it might be that the office location needs to be moved. Personally I never know of any changing rooms which are big enough so I'm sure the office would be greatly desired as extra locker space or storage for hygiene materials.

[Ian R]

hi i can see what the auditor means
If you are treating these office staff in the same way as the production staff and they are having to dress accordingly, then it could be argued that wearing this outfit, they could enter the production area wearing the jewellery,
I would say you need to risk assess the different offices and there access to open food areas etc (as part of your zone decision tree) and see what you get.

Greetings IFSQN world.

We are about to undergo a BRC v6 audit and currently have multiple members of our administrative staff with non-conformance of clause 7.3.3.

They work in an office, which they can only access by walking through the changing area.

Their job description/responsibilites does not involve them entering the production area (there is a protective barrier between them and the warehouse).

We currently require our office-based employees to adhere to the PPE requirements across the site (safety shoes, protective overalls, hair nets, snoods, etc.)

Would a non-conformance of clause 7.3.3 by office-based staff (while in the office) be a point for the auditor?

Outside of issuing a ban on all jewellry/piercings on non-production staff, what actions can we take to ensure this is not an issue?