Is there a requirement for a Health and Safety Representative in BRC?

Good day,

I work for a food manufacturing company that adheres to BRC 7. We do not have a health and safety rep. Is there a requirement for a health and safety representative for our company? My manager feels that there is no need for a person to be trained as a health and safety rep. Is this true? Please advise.

The BRC standard does not include health and safety requirements in its scope.  It makes no difference to BRC whether you have one or not unless lack of health and safety management is a cause of problems related to food safety or quality, then lack of H & S management may be a root cause. For example personnel cutting themselves a lot and potential blood contamination of product.  Just as an example.

As an aside it is very important to have health and safety competency within your business.

Regards,

Simon

As Simon said, BRC is only interested in food safety and quality, not in the safety of your workers.

The government of South Africa, on the other hand, is VERY interested in the safety and well-being of your workers.  This is a link to the law which establishes the authority of the government to regulate this very important function.  You would be wise to contact your government agency to see what is required for your company to do.

http://www.labour.go... and Safety.pdf

Martha