SQF 13.4 Personnel Practices

Hello Everyone - We're a food packaging manufacturer working towards SQF Level 1 - Looking for some guidance/advice. Module 13 section 4 speaks to doors - 13.4.1.1 ( ii ) All doors are to be kept closed. Doors shall not be left open for extended periods when access for waste removal or receiving of product / ingredient / packaging is required."

My question is: if you can't leave the doors open for receiving of product when the truck backs up to the loading dock, how do you get it into the building. Our receiving dock is located in our warehouse where packaging film and finished goods are stored and at times, it takes a while to unload / load the trailers.


We are wondering if installing loading dock seals and shelters to prevent outside air and debris from entering the warehouse when the dock door is open would keep any auditors at bay for this requirement.


As always, any guidance woould be helpful

The short answer to your question is - Yes. Load docking collars and seals will do the job. The thinking behind the requirement is that external doors should not be left open for extended periods which would allow among other things the ingress of pests into the plant.

Other solutions which may be adequate for an audit include:

1. Installing strip curtains
2. Installing rapid opening and closing doors which can be activated by sensor or manually by the person unloading the delivery.

George