Are wood tables and cork boards allowed?
To the Members, smartest on the plant, we have started our SQF edition 8 quest, for food safety code for manufacture of food packaging. The question came up wood desk, wood table tops, cork boards w/pins. We manufacture blow film off to the side on machines are mixture of wood desk and wood table tops. Some are painted in good shape (no flaking or peeling paint) other with clear coat same good condition. We also, have cork board for messages pinned to board away for direct production machine but still on production floor.
Question being, do we need to replace these wood items with metal desk, table tops, magnetic boards or can we just maintain in good shape?
First thought - get em out.
Smart thought - do need to run a risk analysis, document it and if you find these items acceptable be sure to document that risk assessment and place your wood items on an internal audit, register, etc.
As to pins in a corkboard, that would an item I would want to replace.
Hi, Glenn.
In your GMP policy for production, what is included? Do you use wooden pallet for your FP packaging without the slip sheet? If you see some risk then I suggest that should be removed. During your maintenance of the painted table, before the maintenance period do you observed heavy flaking or peeling paint and is it near your packaging machine that it may risk contamination? If so then, remove it. Btw, what packaging do you process?
For pins, this must not be anywhere the production lines. If pins will be removed, so as corkboard because its presence will make it difficult for you to totally remove pins.
Glenn,
You can look to SQF for guidance on this.
11.2.1.1 - Product contact surfaces and those surfaces not in direct contact with food in food handling areas, raw material storage, packaging material storage and cold storage areas shall be constructed of materials that will not contribute a food safety risk.
11.2.3.1 - Walls, partitions, ceilings and doors shall be of durable construction. internal surfaces shall be smooth and impervious with light-colored finish and shall be kept clean.
It is better safe than sorry here and if there is a way to replace those surfaces then I would go for it. There is nothing saying you CANT use wood but it sets you up for trouble if it is every found to be chipping, peeling, or coming apart in any way.
Cheers!
Ditto the above. You don't need to go on a rampage. Set a 3 year goal of replacing everything wood that doesn't have to be or is not prohibitively expensive to replace, and start with the worst/highest risk ones. Knock out one desk per quarter.
Thanks for the input, I will discuss option with food safety team, then document out come in risk analysis matrix.