8 replies to this topic

[StevieP]

Good afternoon everyone,

I’m just after some input in the following and welcome your thoughts. So to set the scene:

I work for a low risk ambient bakery, personal hygiene uniform is the same e.g. mob cap, snood, white coat, white shoes. The Operators have a standard locker that stores their personal items. Factory coats are hung up on pegs and factory shoes are stored of the floor on pegs.

 

We are looking at redesigning the changing rooms to ensure a better standard. So, I’m trying to understand when walking into the new changing rooms the best place to store factory coats and shoes? They wouldn’t want to be too near the door for risk of cross contamination. Would the most simple approach to be to have factory coats and shoes on one side, lockers in the middle of the room and outdoor shoes / pegs on the other side of the room?

 

Does this work from a control point of view? Welcome thoughts.

[zanorias]

Hi Stevie,

 

A linear flow makes sense i.e. outdoor clothing nearest the exit door and production clothing nearest the factory entrance. Do you have a control to prevent contamination of clean PPE i.e. hand wash between removing personal items and putting on PPE?

 

Are you currently with/preparing for a certification scheme?

[StevieP]

Hi zanorias,

YEs, we have controls to prevent contamination of clean PPE i.e. hand wash between removing personal items and putting on PPE. Yes, we are accredited to BRC So there's lots of stuff we currently do. I come from a world of High Care where changing facilities are really tough, so I'm always lost with what is acceptable with low care.

 

Linear flow does make sense, but operators hang their white coats up in the main changing rooms during breaks etc. We currently don't have provisions for them to hang their white coats up on the entrance to the factory. There's currently only one way in and one way out of the changing room hence my thoughts were, walk in; on the right side hang up your outdoor and personal clothing, on the left side, hang up your factory coat.

 

We will get to the point where factory coats can be hung up on a factory entrance, but we are a way off that.

[zanorias]

If the production coats can only be stored in the same room as personal clothing then yes make sure they are separate sides of the room. I would think this - with cleaning controls between clothing and a risk assessment and appropriate procedures - should satisfy BRC. The interpretation of clause 4.8.1 states "The location and position of facilities is an important consideration and this must be the subject of a risk assessment to ensure the protection of protective clothing from contamination before entering the production areas".

[Jpainter]

Also remember when designing this new area that it cannot open directly into a production area. I have always thought going from locker rooms to into a sanitary handwash room into the production area works well, as everyone must walk by the sinks to enter to promote good hygiene practices. 

[StevieP]

Hi Jpainter, thanks for the feedback. Yes, thankfully ours would never do that! regarding opening into food production.

[NicholasChai]

Hi all, we are actually setting up a poultry processing plant with BRC standards, is it a mandatory requirement to wash hands before putting on PPE and wash hands again before entrance into production? Our current(old plant) practices washing hands only after all PPE are put on

 

For boots shall it be put on last? Is boot washing practice daily a good requirement to ensure that the boots are always clean even though they put go through a foot bath. 

 

On a side note, are drinking water bottles allowed in locker room? Or shall it only be at canteen. We are planning to minimize the locker space to prevent employees from bringing unnecessary items into the locker room.

[GMO]

Hi all, we are actually setting up a poultry processing plant with BRC standards, is it a mandatory requirement to wash hands before putting on PPE and wash hands again before entrance into production? Our current(old plant) practices washing hands only after all PPE are put on

 

 

It depends on whether you are raw poultry or cooked poultry.  For raw, one handwash is sufficient (as it would be low risk) but also (of course) washing your hands on the way out.  For cooked, you should wash your hands before handling your coat and then wash them once fully dressed.

 

 

For boots shall it be put on last? Is boot washing practice daily a good requirement to ensure that the boots are always clean even though they put go through a foot bath. 

 

 

No boots are always put on first.  Cleaning boots daily is seen as best practice and most people have got rid of foot baths as they can become microbiological soups very quickly (i.e. the disinfectant gets used up and they recontaminate.)  Best practice is they are cleaned minimum once a day by dedicated hygiene staff.

 

On a side note, are drinking water bottles allowed in locker room? Or shall it only be at canteen. We are planning to minimize the locker space to prevent employees from bringing unnecessary items into the locker room.

 

Generally no.  If they only contain water there is an argument for it but water is still an attractant for pests so if you can get away without it in changing areas, I would.  Some places have water fountains and handwash afterwards where production areas are particularly hot but I wouldn't advise it if you're processing raw chicken as it could become a source of employee pathogen contamination and make your employees ill.

Edited by GMO, 01 July 2019 - 11:23 AM.

[NicholasChai]

Thank you GMO for the explanation and advice, appreciate it !