No food stored in staff lockers

Hi All

 

I've always been familiar with the South African Good Manufacturing Practice requirement that no food is allowed to be stored in staff lockers and have always implemented this. However, I was recently questioned by a staff member on the reasoning behind this requirement and found myself unable to give a proper explanation as to why we don't allow food in the lockers.

 

Could someone please explain to me the reasoning behind this requirement? Does it have something to do with attracting pests, or food not being stored in refrigerated conditions, or is there some other logic behind it.

 

Your comments will be appreciated.

 

Regards,

Denise

Pests, molds, allergens, cross contamination of plant uniforms etc..  There's a lot that can go wrong with storing food in a locker. 

Perhaps I should just add that the lockers I am referring to is for storage of personal effects only. I.e. Personal clothes, purse, cellphone,etc. Not for protective clothing or anything that goes in the factory.

Everything still applies,  we plan for the "has happened" and the "what if" scenarios. All food should be stored in the fridge or lunch room. Its a controlled environment for a reason. If the Lockers are in the lunch room then I'd so its ok, but anything outside that area should be off limits, Best Practice!

"I've always been familiar with the South African Good Manufacturing Practice requirement that no food is allowed to be stored in staff lockers and have always implemented this. However, I was recently questioned by a staff member on the reasoning behind this requirement and found myself unable to give a proper explanation as to why we don't allow food in the lockers."

 

In theory this is an activity that prevent intrusion of potential contaminants into process areas.

 

Rgds.

Also, if NO food is allowed in employee lockers, nothing can spoil or go bad: thereby stinking and further attracting pests, etc.

Dear Denise, as others mentioned, there is a lot of explanations that you could give and some of them are that:

1. Often employees forget about food that they stored in lockers, food is spoiled and bad smells are there. Bad smells attract pests.

2. Food in lockers also effect on proper hygiene and cleaning, and because of that it can cause cross contamination.

 

Some of the other questions that could be mentioned are - Is it forbidden for all kind of food to be stored? (e.g. coffee, packed products that are not opened yet, products that don't need cold storing).

You must be excluded for all of this, and explain that "no food in locker" policy is a rule for all types of food.