Cleaning Station Suggestions?
We're pursuing SQF Level 2 Certification (I'm still a newbie to all of this) and I've been trying to isolate different parts of our facility that could use some improvement (if not those areas that need definite change) and simply start there when it comes to any "improvements" and such.
Take a look at one of our current "Cleaning Stations" that we have around the facility right now (4 total on the Production Floor)...
Thoughts? Personally, I don't like this "look-and-feel" or the "functionality" of the set-up at all.
Any criticisms, observations, suggestions and/or thoughts? What does your facility do in this regard? Should I add/remove any of those cleaning tools? Should I just clean and organize them better and add more colored tape on the handles to correspond to the Cleaning Station it belongs to? Or is it just better to research Suppliers/Vendors that have these items in solid colors perhaps to help make it even easier to identify/store and to eliminate the use of any colored tape in the facility?
Again, not the most "critical" issue for sure, but one that I'd like to address nonetheless. Of course, I know that this community of Food Safety/SQF expert professionals will have some good things to share.
Thanks in advance for your time and help!
All The Best,
JKRed
Certainly remove the wooden handles.
Make sure the tools are clean.
Does your facility have a color code system? If so, certainly find vendors that have color coded tools. RS Quality Products is a good source. Tape is a pet peeve of mine.
Marshall
As someone else stated get rid on the wooden handles, and in our production areas we bought small tool sheds to use as broom closets around the plant.
Heres an idea of what i'm talking about:
http://www.homedepot...OLVSS/202530960
and maybe put a baseboard around that wall?
Certainly remove the wooden handles.
Make sure the tools are clean.
Does your facility have a color code system? If so, certainly find vendors that have color coded tools. RS Quality Products is a good source. Tape is a pet peeve of mine.
Marshall
I agree with Marshall, the wooden handles should defiantly be removed and replaced with east to clean shovels/brushes etc.
Tools that are formed fully with no screws/nails etc. to attach handles/bases are good practice as this will minimise the possibly of contamination.
we have a colour coded system in that all indoor hygiene equipment is blue (as is the station) and all outdoor hygiene equipment is red.
Murae
That wall is going to get mighty dirty and is damaged at the bottom. You can get a big sheet of something fixed behind to protect the wall that is cleanable such as durable plastic or stainless steel.
Great idea to post a photo...as Tele Savalas once sung (or spoke) "a picture paints a thousand words".
Regards,
Simon
Wow -- as expected, detailed and fast responses here! Thanks everyone!
Yes, that wall is a problem. The good news is that it won't be there for long as we are about to begin some construction/expansion to our facility.
As for the Cleaning Station itself, I can't believe no one ever picked up on the problem with the Wooden Handles. I might be a "Noob" to all this SQF stuff myself, but I'm kicking myself for not catching that either.
The idea of a "color-coded" system is really appealing too. In fact, we've tossed the idea around a bit, but never really pulled the trigger on it. After 5 minutes on that R.S. Quality Products website, the overwhelming consensus is...LET'S DO THIS ASAP!
Again, thanks to everyone for your time and help. It's greatly appreciated.
All The Best,
JKRed
Just something to note - (I have inspectors / auditors comment on this in past experiences) As a risk reduction step for cross contamination, brooms, squeegees shoud be hung with the handle up and the bristles,blades down. This is to eliminate/reduce the chances of water/bacteria/debris running down the handle, where employee's hands are contacting.
Good luck...it is a constant learning adventure, after 17 years I still feel like a "newbie". IFSQN is definitely an excellent educational resource.
As Simon mentioned with the sheet of cleanable material and Klwarren with the bristles/head down, I would add that we install "spacers" or blocks between the tool holder and the wall to move the heads out so bristles do not contact the wall and that cleaning can occur between these.
Also depending on what you make, at some intervoles the tools should be thems selves cleaned. Whether you scrub/soak them or run them in a COP (clean out of place) tank be sure to disassemble the handles and clean in there too as a great place to harbor bacteria! At a previous plant this was a monthly master sanitation task, just be sure that ONLY brushes/buckets are washed together and never with parts.
Doesn't hurt to do a cleanliness inspection during a internal audit either, I have had auditors take tools apart and smell them!
Great ideas team!
G
Wow, yes, these are ALL very good observations and great suggestions so thank you very much for your time and help!
All The Best,
JKRed
I'm still wondering what the shovel's for ?
bakery ?
Haha! Yes, we're a Bakery/Gourmet Chocolate Manufacturer.
One quick question for people kind of related to this.
I converted our site to colour coded cleaning equipment (my boss thinks it is hilarious when I lovingly pour over catalogue of colour coded cleaning supplies) a number of months ago. This is working well, but I'm a little stuck on the "how to clean the cleaning equipment" bit. The various brooms etc are all capable of withstanding temperatures up to 120 degrees celsius, which is great for the sanitisng/sterilising step, but how do we go about removing the gross contamination from the bristles?
Our site is a commercial sandwich manufacturer so as you could imagine, it is possible to get a bit of almost anything that can go in a sandwich on the floor and subsequently stuck in the bristles of the broom.
So I would be very grateful if anyone can suggest an effective way to remove food ranging from bread and meat, through to lettuce, cheese and egg from the broom bristles so that we can then sterilise them.