4 replies to this topic

[shelly]

I am looking for a bit of advice on personal health issues (7.5.1) in the standard.What sort of procedure should be in place for this and should you include some sort of procedure for returning back to work ,if you have suffered any gastric upset or been in contact with any infectious disease?

Any advice would be much appreciated

[mikelond]

Hi Shelley!
Nothing extensive - our procedure states personal health requirements on three levels.

1. Full documented medical at the time of employment

2. Medical or health declaration required if returning from holiday outside the EEC

3. Clean bill of health from your own doctor if absent through food poisoning, gastro problems etc.

Also , a simple health questionnaire for all visitors to complete on arrival on site is a good idea, to show due diligence when having people on site who you can't personally vouch for .

If you need any examples, I can e-mail mine across to you.

Regards

Mike

[Simon]

Just to add my two pence worth. I agree with your points Mike on the pre-employment screening, visitor screening and reporting illness. However, I've never been comfortable with the "medical or health declaration on return from foreign holiday" (dodgy destinations up for debate). It isn't a requirement of the BRC/IOP Standard (I hope) and I would advise Shelly to steer clear of implementing this system unless it is a specific requirement from customers - then you have no choice.

I would be interested to know how you manage your system Mike - what's the procedure for example if one of your operators returns from a fortnight in Ulan Bator?

Regards,
Simon

[mikelond]

Fair point, Simon.
I'm afraid that I'm guilty here of 'carrying on with tradition' , as this holiday statement was in the procedure when I took it over.
However, whenever I have visited any of our food customers, they have had this statement on their 'entrance to site' visitor questionnaire that I have been required to fill in. I will, however, dig a little deeper into the reasoning for this, as blind acceptance and faith doesn't promote growth, development and continuous improvement of a system

Anyway, management of this part of the system currently involves the production of a locally franked postcard from the destination in question, as Madge in accounts collects them in aid of the National Parrots with Tourettes Foundation.

But seriously, I feel that it is just a record of where a person has been, should they develop some form of illness after return to work (malaria etc), thus enabling a swifter diagnosis based on the maladies of the particular area.

I myself will be especially watching for any signs of Moose-foot upon return from Canada in August.

Are there any food manufacturers out there who have thisn statement on their entrance to site questionnaire or return to work declaration?


Mike

[Simon]

It's just that in the old days i.e. pre BRC, I tried to manage this system and found it very difficult. It's especially difficult when the company doesn't operate a sick pay scheme. How many of us have had a dodgy tummy when we've been abroad? I wouldn't report illness it if it meant I would be excluded from work without pay.

If you have a 'reporting illness' system in place this should pick up most problems although I understand some tropical diseases can fester. In most cases if an employee returns from a weekend away in Zucchini with a severe dose of Sphincteritis they won't make it into work...believe me!

Regards,
Simon