What's in your chemical list?
Hello,
We are working towards SQF Certification(previously level 2) and hope to be ready by the middle of next year. I have researched my specific questions around this topic to no avail.
I am currently working through the Chemical program and list. There is some confusion on what should be included on the Approved chemical list. We have food grade and nonfood grade areas in our facility. Currently I have the chemicals we use on the production floor and the chemicals in our maintenance shop listed.
But...
Should paints and caulking be on this list?
Should cleaners used in the office, and hand soaps be on the list?
We are going to include the cleaning chemicals used for our lab equipment on the list, but if there are, for example Lysol wipes or Windex in the lab should this be on the list?
Should the list include the amount on hand of each item as well?
The code seems very relaxed around what exactly I am supposed to set up with this list. My initial thought was to have the main iron clad list of chemicals we use in production and the other items have on a separate list, that represents "yes they are in the facility but not in processing areas."
Please any guidance would be appreciated.
Thank you,
A
I include all the chemicals pertinent to our sanitation program in a special list, with concentration instructions and whether or not a rinse is required. My "list" of all other chemicals in the facility is my MSDS book.
Thank you Fur,
That was my next question, Do all the items in the maintenance shop(including paint and caulk), hand soaps, office cleaning supplies need an SDS?
Yes you should have and SDS for any chemical that you have including paint, office cleaning supplies anything used in case of an emergency that staff can pull up the SDS for it. SQF will walk around and write down chemicals they see throughout your facility and then ask you to see the SDS. Took a hit last year did not have one for the paint can she saw in storage.
Kind Regards,
Susan
We are an SQF Certified facility and what we have done is create a master list of every chemical used in the plant. We then assign a department the chemical that it lives in or pertains to. As Susan mentioned an auditor will ask for an SDS for chemicals observed during the audit. We also have added in a risk assessment to the chemical list and highlighted all food grade lubricants for ease of finding and reference. This is an easily audited register that can be used to verify chemicals in each department. All paints, caulking, etc are on the list even if stored in an outside cabinet.
I hope this helps and good luck with the certification.
Hi,
Does anyone know if the SDS we have on file needs to be the manufacture's SDS or can they be any company's?
For example we have items in our maintenance shop which are no longer made or the company is out of business so I cannot find the updated SDS(in GHS format) from that specific company. could I use an SDS from another company?
Thank you - Such a tedious task!
You need to have the manufactures supplied SDS, these need to be specific to the chemical used. Per OSHA you should be keeping an SDS on file for 30 years.
https://www.osha.gov...ARDS&p_id=10027
Really reading and understanding what is required is key. If cannot find an SDS due to be an old chemical then it might be good to start purchasing new chemicals that have current GHS supplied SDS.
freehli4
Hi,
Does anyone know if the SDS we have on file needs to be the manufacture's SDS or can they be any company's?
For example we have items in our maintenance shop which are no longer made or the company is out of business so I cannot find the updated SDS(in GHS format) from that specific company. could I use an SDS from another company?
Thank you - Such a tedious task!
You should have kept the older version of the MSDS and, if the chemical is still active, should keep it in the "book" if no SDS exists for it. GHS does not necessarily require SDS, just the most recent version of a data sheet. If there IS an SDS you should find it and replace the MSDS. I would just find a replacement and discard the old chemical, then archive the MSDS.
Not a sqf user myself and the related sqf clause is not stated but surely chemicals like lubricants stored in (assumed external) Engineering Department and used for external compressors are not relevant to the FS program ?
And similarly for laboratory ? (assumed no direct contact to Production areas/storage in lab).
And ditto Office (ditto).
Risk presumably ~ Zero.
addendum
just as an (incomplete) example from SQF8, module 11 -
11.6.4.1 Hazardous chemicals and toxic substances with the potential for food contamination shall be stored so as not to present a hazard to staff, product, packaging, product handling equipment or areas in which the product is handled, stored or transported.
11.6.4.2 Processing utensils and packaging shall not be stored in areas used to store hazardous chemicals and toxic substances.
11.6.4.3 Daily supplies of chemicals used for continuous sanitizing of water or as a processing aid, or for emergency cleaning of food processing equipment or surfaces in food contact zones, may be stored within or in close proximity to a processing area provided access to the chemical storage site is restricted to authorized personnel.
11.6.4.4 Pesticides, rodenticides, fumigants and insecticides shall be stored separate from sanitizers and detergents. All chemicals shall be stored in their original containers, or in clearly labelled and suitable secondary containers if allowed by applicable legislation.
But...
Should paints and caulking be on this list?
...YES
Should cleaners used in the office, and hand soaps be on the list?
...YES
We are going to include the cleaning chemicals used for our lab equipment on the list, but if there are, for example Lysol wipes or Windex in the lab should this be on the list?
...YES
Should the list include the amount on hand of each item as well?
...YES - running inventory and post the list that pertains to the chemicals in use at storage unit
The code seems very relaxed around what exactly I am supposed to set up with this list. My initial thought was to have the main iron clad list of chemicals we use in production and the other items have on a separate list, that represents "yes they are in the facility but not in processing areas."
We use a master list that updates each day and then sub lists at each storage location that are updated daily -- this is an electronic system by the way, a lot easier than paper - but we started with paper. I think you will find the code to be clear after a couple of reads.
But...
Should paints and caulking be on this list?
...YES
Should cleaners used in the office, and hand soaps be on the list?
...YES
We are going to include the cleaning chemicals used for our lab equipment on the list, but if there are, for example Lysol wipes or Windex in the lab should this be on the list?
...YES
Should the list include the amount on hand of each item as well?
...YES - running inventory and post the list that pertains to the chemicals in use at storage unit
The code seems very relaxed around what exactly I am supposed to set up with this list. My initial thought was to have the main iron clad list of chemicals we use in production and the other items have on a separate list, that represents "yes they are in the facility but not in processing areas."
We use a master list that updates each day and then sub lists at each storage location that are updated daily -- this is an electronic system by the way, a lot easier than paper - but we started with paper. I think you will find the code to be clear after a couple of reads.
Hi SQFC,
Perhaps you could indicate where the "Yes's" are specifically required/(implied to be required) by the Code ?
My inital reaction is of a Gigantic Overkill but SQF has frequently succeeded in astonishing me as to its Empire-building capabilities.
I would never include office cleaning supplies.........it is generally separate staff who do not roam from area to area; start listing window cleaner used only in the office washrooms where do you stop?
We need to use prudence on these items
There should be 2 sets of doors at least between the office and the production areas, so where is the risk?
Should the lab not also be separated by 2 doors? Again, where is the risk