Order of PPE dressing

Hi All

We had an customer audit yesterday and received a non-conformance relating to our PPA dressing procedure.

We are a low risk site and prepare vegetables which are then further processed by our customers.

The standard PPA consist of ear plugs,hair net, beard snood "if necessary", white coat, wellingtons and blue gloves. 

Our procedure is dressing top to toe i.e. 1.sanitize hands, 2.ear plugs 3.hair net 4.white coat 5. wellingtons 6. gloves.

Then into the production area to wash and sanitize the gloves.

The auditor insisted that we should apply the wellingtons after the hairnet.

We have adopted our procedure for several years and it has not been challenged previously.

We have a BRC audit next month and I am reluctant to change the procedure as this has never been highlighted in any previous audits

I was wondering if any one out there is able to clarify this dressing procedure. 

Best regards

Bruce

Hi All

 

We had an customer audit yesterday and received a non-conformance relating to our PPA dressing procedure.

We are a low risk site and prepare vegetables which are then further processed by our customers.

The standard PPA consist of ear plugs,hair net, beard snood "if necessary", white coat, wellingtons and blue gloves. 

Our procedure is dressing top to toe i.e. 1.sanitize hands, 2.ear plugs 3.hair net 4.white coat 5. wellingtons 6. gloves.

Then into the production area to wash and sanitize the gloves.

The auditor insisted that we should apply the wellingtons after the hairnet.

We have adopted our procedure for several years and it has not been challenged previously.

We have a BRC audit next month and I am reluctant to change the procedure as this has never been highlighted in any previous audits

I was wondering if any one out there is able to clarify this dressing procedure. 

 

Best regards

 

Bruce

PPA ??

Rgds / Charles.C

Hairnet first, beard snood, clothing, footwear, wash hands. :smile:

Bruce,

Hairnet first, beard snood (if needed), footwear, wash hands,  clothing, wash hands enter production area.

Cheers,

Richard.

Hi Simon,

Standard for high care I suppose....Low risk would be more along the lines of what you have put, but saying that it would be seen as good practice. :rock:

Cheers,

Richard.

Hi Richard,

Is the main thing hairnet and beard snood (always) before protective clothing and wash hands last (always)?

Cheers,

Simon

Hi Simon,

I would say yes, plus sanitiser after washing hands for the second time (forgot to add this previously).

Cheers,

Richard.

Hi Simon,

 

I would say yes, plus sanitiser after washing hands for the second time (forgot to add this previously).

 

Cheers,

 

Richard.

:clap:  And now it's time to degown for the break...

Best practice even in low risk to change by putting on mob cap / beard snood first then wellies, then wash hands, coat, wash hands again and into production.

As it's low risk you could be a bit pragmatic and say after the welly stage you would use hand sanitiser before handling the coat or wash hands fully at that stage and then use hand sanitiser after putting on the coat, before entry to high care.  The thing is depending on whether the processors heat your products (and even if they do), not all processes will have dramatic effects on micro loading and the best thing is to minimise it as far as possible.

Not Low Risk but FWIW, partial extract - 

Document (BRC F048)

3.5 High Risk Changing Facilities (clause 4.8.5)

Where facilities manufacture high risk products, personnel shall enter the high risk area via a specific designated changing facility (i.e. separate from other lower risk changing areas) and shall follow documented instructions to:

■   apply specific dedicated protective clothing (i.e. not worn in other areas of the factory)

■   use visually distinct protective clothing (e.g. different colour or style) including clean overalls, headwear and footwear

■   apply clothing in a given order (e.g. hairnet first, then shoes, wash hands then put on protective overall)

■   wash hands during the changing procedure

 

4.4 High Care Changing Facilities (clause 4.8.4)

The objective of the clause is to ensure that protective clothing once applied is not contaminated before entry into the high care area. Documented instructions shall be available to:

■   apply dedicated personal protective (i.e. not worn in other areas of the factory)

■   use protective clothing which is visually distinct (e.g. different colour or style) including clean overalls, headwear and dedicated footwear (by exception shoe coverings can be provided for visitors but these are only to be worn in the high care area).

■   apply clothing in a given order (e.g. hairnet first, then shoes, then overall).

■   wash hands during the changing procedure e.g. after handling shoes and before entering the production area.

 

 

Rgds / Charles.C

Thank you guys

I think that Richards procedure covers all bases. I appreciate all your input.
Best regards
Bruce

Agreed that is more belt and braces so there should not be any issues raised if you adopt but I don't see the need to wash hands twice and would go with hand sanitiser at the end as suggested by GMO.

Regards,

Tony

After implementing the above-mentioned steps, when to re-wash hands if all health measures have been taken