9 replies to this topic

[ssernak]

I know there is a uniform policy per BRC guidelines. But are uniforms required. I would consider our operation of Tortilla Chips low risk.

[Dharmadi Sadeli Putra]

Hello,

Uniform for food industry usually has a spesific design and materials such as no pocket, no button ,color distinction for each unit to avoid cross contamination and... i can't imagine what if some employees wearing hot pants and tank top at work

[Snookie]

The level of risk aside, the purpose is to keep the product safe.  If you have someone who has 20 cats at home; do you want those hairy clothes on the production line.  The idea of a uniform, which often is little more than a lab coat is that the company has control of them, they are clean and put on just before working.  This prevents hairy or other potential problems on the line. 

[ssernak]

I understand the risk assessment and the potential for contamination. What I am asking does the BRC guideline mandate a uniform be supplied through the Company and or a uniform company or can they wear their own clothes as long as their personnel clothing meets requirements such as no buttons, pockets, etc?

[Dharmadi Sadeli Putra]

as Snookie said, company has to control the uniform to make sure they are washed (using non perfumed detergent), stored and used in proper manner.  All of these procedures are to prevent any risk of contamination in production line.

[Shyguy77]

If you have good policies and procedures in place you may be able to write up a risk assessment for it.

[Slab]

Hi, ssernak, and welcome to the forums! 

 

I thought the code was fairly straight forward here unless I'm missing something;

 

"Suitable company-issued protective clothing shall be worn by employees, contractors

or visitors working in or entering production areas."

 

 

 

Laundering procedures whether in-house or contracted must be validated.  This is an impossibility with workers bringing in street clothes to food manufacturing. 

 

I would consider our operation of Tortilla Chips low risk.

 

 

If it's a ready to eat food, then all measures must be taken to eliminate/reduce the introduction of pathogenic bacteria, allergens, and foreign material into the finished goods.  By low risk I assume you mean the nature of the product and not the process?

[Snookie]

P.S.  Welcome to the forum. 

[mohdalif]

Uniforms is required to distinguish from the work wear and the street wear eventhough your working area not directly touching the food. 

[Snookie]

This is one of those areas where companies can get, "..penny wise and pound foolish".  There is a cost to the uniforms, but when you consider what the risk is they can be cheap.  Also if you have any amount of customers or auditors coming in, they expect to see them.  I have heard of some companies that keep them just for audits, but a trained auditor can tell when the staff are not used to something.  So it becomes clear fairly quickly that this is unusual. 

 

I would suspect that many of your areas are hot so there could be some resistance to them and to wear as little as possible which is perfectly understandable, but then a little bit of thought (and cooperative management) can keep the staff as comfortable as possible and still be compliant.