SQF 8 Manufacturing module 11. section 11.4.1.1

Hello everyone,

According to SQF 8 Manufacturing, section 11.4.1.1 subsection vi. states; " The wearing of false fingernails, false eyelashes, eyelash extensions, long nails or fingernail polish is not permitted when handling exposed food".  Could someone please advise how you would determine what length would be considered too long. (i.e. past fingertip length). 

Thank you.

BarbieLou

Well I don't know much about this, but here is what I will be using as an argument for not having to measure, but still ensuring nails are trimmed during GMP checks.  Also long fingernails can break-off and land in food, my guys wear gloves so at least there is one layer of protection for us.

Found in the CDC's guidelines for Hand Hygiene for Healthcare Workers, so more strict than what we deal with!

"Whether artificial nails contribute to transmission of healthcare–associated infections is unknown. However, HCWs who wear artificial nails are more likely to harbor gram-negative pathogens on their fingertips than are those who have natural nails, both before and after handwashing (347–349). Whether the length of natural or artificial nails is a substantial risk factor is unknown, because the majority of bacterial growth occurs along the proximal 1 mm of the nail adjacent to subungual skin (345,347,348)."

Full Text Here : https://www.cdc.gov/...F/rr/rr5116.pdf

Well I don't know much about this, but here is what I will be using as an argument for not having to measure, but still ensuring nails are trimmed during GMP checks.  Also long fingernails can break-off and land in food, my guys wear gloves so at least there is one layer of protection for us.

 

Found in the CDC's guidelines for Hand Hygiene for Healthcare Workers, so more strict than what we deal with!

 

"Whether artificial nails contribute to transmission of healthcare–associated infections is unknown. However, HCWs who wear artificial nails are more likely to harbor gram-negative pathogens on their fingertips than are those who have natural nails, both before and after handwashing (347–349). Whether the length of natural or artificial nails is a substantial risk factor is unknown, because the majority of bacterial growth occurs along the proximal 1 mm of the nail adjacent to subungual skin (345,347,348)."

 

Full Text Here : https://www.cdc.gov/...F/rr/rr5116.pdf

Uh Oh, I spoke too soon!  From the same text....

6. Other Aspects of Hand Hygiene

A. Do not wear artificial fingernails or extenders when having direct contact with patients at high risk (e.g., those in intensive-care units or operating rooms) (IA) (350–353).

B. Keep natural nails tips less than 1/4-inch long (II) (350).

Well that just may be your answer.  Good luck measuring though!

Anything over 5 feet is bad!