Will repeat Pest Control NC become a major if repeated?
My question is, when will this issue go from being a minor NC to a major due to CA failure? Just trying to show the importance to the managers if we do not get this resolved.
Technically, if the CA didn't work the facility should have implemented a different CA altogether.........i'm surprised you didn't get a major on this
the basic premise of a CA is that you believe it will work. then you verify.........oops it didn't do the job we thought it would, we need to do XYZ now
Can you elaborate anymore on the specifics?
Is your pest control done in-house or with a vendor?
Are you able to prove you did everything in your power to address it?
What is the pest issue exactly?
There is no automatic rule for moving from a minor to a major. Review the definitions of those terms in the Code. To be a major, there should be a risk present and an element of the code breaking down. If I was auditing and discovered a repeat finding that is not a clear hazard, I would document that finding plus add one for your corrective action system. I would then dig more deeply into corrective actions and that program to determine it it is working and if not, you major might be there.
I want to add that this not being an automatic major is one of the reasons I object to GFSI---
In a regulated commodity---repeated non conformance of the same issue WILL result in a notice of suspension............you simply cannot go one ignoring the issue because it just keeps getting a minor
Our pest issue is very seasonal. So its difficult to guage the effectiveness without looking at the whole year and comparing the trend to the last.
Our pest control is done with a vendor. The vendor wasnt tracking trend for 2017 so we had nothing to compare our 2018 trend data to.
I recently took over this position about
6 months ago. The person who was in charge was unfortunately very hands off of all the issues. Management still has a very "bandage fix it" attitude and they all do not truly understand food safety and where the auditors are coming from as they do not think anything major can happen to them in that aspect.
Sounds like your biggest pest issue walks on two legs. :spoton:
Hi Sabear
Pest control contractors provide a service & usually recommend actions during their visits - eg. "Clear waste by compactor" "seal holes in walls" "replace brush strips under doors" - the recommended actions are then the responsibility of the service user (your employer) to find the money & labour to rectify. For instance, the contractor can put down multiple bait boxes, but if there is waste left lying around & proofing isn't done, you're going to have an issue - both with pests & with your auditing body.
It's really unfortunate but sometimes only an infestation seems to motivate senior management sufficiently to recognise they may have a problem (that could affect profitability).
And it is possible to get a major from failing to sufficiently address an ongoing minor - which is logical as it shows that your "corrective action" was not effective. This will depend on the severity of the issue & the individual auditor
My advice is to get the pest control company onside as their (expensive) advice can sometimes be far more effective than advice coming from an employee (you).
Not sure about USA pest control standard contracts but in UK the T&C of the contract will usually include some training on pests, provided FOC. If this is covered by your contract I'd strongly advise you involve the management team in this as it could provide more weight to your argument for swift completion of the pest control contractor's recommended actions.
You should definitely include as many of the senior management team in the pest control annual review in any case, as they need to understand the risks to your industry/sector/facility & what they're getting for their money from the pest control contract.
Best of luck - sounds like a step change in attitude to food safety & some training is needed for your management team!.....