13 replies to this topic

[dan0r]

Hi,

 

I was having an argument with my co-worker regarding hairnets. (of course!)

We work at a company where we only pack and repack fruits. Nothing is cut or anything similar.

For making us think about what we are actually doing I stated that although we DO work with hairnets, I think its arguable and would like your insights about this.

 

As we work with fruit which isn't processed and fruit has it';s own container (skin) and has it's own natural acid which slows down growth of bacteria on the skin one could say that when looking at food safety, there isn't a real issue when we wouldn't use hairnets.

We even wash our fruits as well before consuming. 

 

How do you see this and why?

 

[Scampi]

I would not buy a container of fruit if I could see a hair.................I don't think most would either.............the assumption is it's gross

 

Regardless of whether or not you NEED a hair net, think about what the consumers would THINK

 

Seems to me wearing it is better than being rejected as a vendor

 

Customer is always (almost) right

[Gerard H.]

Dear Dan0r,

 

People lose on average 50-100 head hairs a day. So, without protective measures, the chance of finding a hair in the product is very likely. You will probably have an increase of customer complaints, as mentioned above, when you stop wearing the hairnets.

 

Please note, that the hairnets have to be worn and used correctly. 

 

Kind regards,

 

Gerard Heerkens

[trubertq]

I'm afraid regardless of the product, hairnets should be used where there is open product. 

[lmacfarland]

My facility has it so that in "NON" production areas hairnet is not needed.

 

90% of our production is completed in-line and covered but employees are still required to wear. Once in the non process area it is no longer required because product is fully packaged.

 

I would say that if you are handling the product unpackaged a hair net would be deemed necessary. 

[dan0r]

I understand that this would look weird for our clients. We even have clients that ask this of us before becoming a client. Of course we won't stop using this but discussing these kind of things makes part of our work for fun every now and then.

[MsMars]

I do agree that it probably isn't much of a microbial risk, but more of a brand image risk. But, what the customer wants, the customer gets and a complaint is a complaint.  I certainly wouldn't enjoy finding a hair in my bag of oranges.

[manfred1]

Hello,

Hairnets should be worn at all time especially when entering any manufacturing environment, handling unpackaged product. A standard GMP rule. Be prepared to see an increase of customer complaints if the team stop wearing hairnets.

Thanks

[ilonar]

Hello dan0r,

 

I can only assume that your clients are also asking you to be certified against a food safety standard. Nowadays there is no supermarket (or supplier of a supermarket that uses your company as packing facility) that agrees to purchase products from you unless you have a GSFI valid certificate or that you pass an audit against their own standard. In all these standards there is a compulsory requirement to have the hair covered, including facial hair. Some standards go even further and ask that also ears have to be covered. Nowadays, you can only supply without being certified if you are the only one producing that product or you offer it at half price than the competition.

 

I don't know what kind of products are you packing, but did it ever happen in your company that hair was found in the products? I used to do a lot of quality checks and even work in production, so I often found 15-20 cm long hair between strawberries that were freshly picked from the field/glasshouse. Besides the fact that I personally found it disgusting, I was also wondering why aren't the companies that are picking the fruit also obliged to have the hair completely covered. In case hair is found at one of our clients in the UK, automatically our company will be the one suspected of not working according to the rules.

 

Our risk analyses also describes the risk of contamination with hair from employees. In the end the severity of the risk is low, it is not the same like a piece of glass that can injure someone or an infection with a pathogen, but it is more about losing your reputation at your clients. How can you explain to your clients that hair was found in the product because you are not wearing a hairnet? You are probably receiving visits from the KCB to check the quality of the product. Are they automatically taking a hairnet?       

[SQFconsultant]

In your case HAIR would be a quality issue not a food safety issue.

 

The wearing of hairnets pro or con would be based on how you package your fruits - for example if packaged in a sealed tray overwrapped with plastic the presence of hair would be a major issue with a consumer and then I would say, yes you folks need to wear hairnets.

 

If packed into things like a mesh bag of apples, then the answer would be no nets.

[jwalsh]

Can hairnets be used effectively with hats?

[trubertq]

yes,  hairnet over hat where hats are limited to beanie type non-shedding fleece for warmth in a cold environment.

[Tbaker13]

It mostly depends on the type of hat or hairnet along with what product you are packing. We pack fresh Apples and Our policy is that you must wear a hairnet or a company provided ball cap or fleece beanie when around fruit/packing areas

[SQFconsultant]

Can hairnets be used effectively with hats?

 

Sure, as long as there is a hairnet on the head itself.