Business Continuity Plan (2.1.6.2) - Evidence of Training?
As previously mentioned, we're pursuing SQF Level 2 Certification for the first time and just had our Desk Audit.
When it came to our "Business Continuity Plan" (2.1.6.2), we were given a "Minor" for not having any evidence of the "Crisis Management Team" being trained! In hindsight, it's common sense, but we were completely blindsided by this!
Our "Potential Threats" include...
* Fire
* Loss of Utilities
* Equipment Failure
* Natural/Manmade Disaster
Does anyone have ANY SUGGESTIONS at all as to how we can obtain and be able to provide "evidence" of being trained enough to satisfy this requirement during our next Audit?
Thanks in advance for your time and help!
All The Best,
JKRed
I worked for a company that was Certified SQF, The training included defining personnel responsible and their responsibilities, this was on paper and they made us sign it (that counted as a training). Also, they created a Scenario of an emergency, sent the emergency by email and every one of us replied with the detailed list of what we would have done it the emergency was real.
Thanks maara91! Interesting. So it sounds like a "Mock Crisis/Emergency Test" recorded on the "Skills Training Register" and complete with the appropriate signatures/dates should have been sufficient. Maybe that's all he wanted to hear -- that we could confidently respond with an answer that mentioned that our "evidence" was proof that each key player knew their specific role and responsibilities during the entire process. Curious to see if anyone has any other thoughts on this though.
All The Best,
JKRed
We cover our continuity plan in Food security training annually, procedures for fire and tornado are tested each annually and documented per our safety program. I believe you have to conduct a fire drill annually and while we take roll in our designated location I ask the key individuals to tell me their procedure/responsibilities during the drill. In the initial training of a team member on a new job their rolls/requirements during our plant emergencies are discussed and signed off against.
Just how we do it
G
We provide basic yearly training on Crisis Management and food security with our hourly employees and this is documented with a sign-in sheet and we can provide the PowerPoint presentation if auditor asks. We train the employees on 1) importance of notifying management immediately if anything unusual that could affect their safety or the safety of the product, 2) importance of knowing what to do and where to go in a crisis such a fire, tornado, ammonia leak, etc..., 3) not to talk to media or anyone about what happens at the plant, someone is assigned to do that and it would be considered a breach in confidentiality. 4) maintaining plant security by not letting anyone into the facility and reporting immediately to management any unattended visitors or non-authorized personnel on company premises.
As for the individuals assigned specific roles in the Crisis Management plan we meet yearly and review the written procedures and document this as training on a sign-in sheet with an agenda for the training. We then have a Food Safety and Quality Team that meets quarterly and we try to go over a crisis management scenario at each meeting but at least 2 of them yearly. We started with the most likely scenario, like extended power loss, and have been working towards the ones we consider less likely to occur such as a terrorist attack. Once we had covered a scenario for each type of possible crisis then we started over.