4 replies to this topic

[QA_123]

Hello,

We wear outer shirts over our street clothes here.  I am having people trying to refuse to button them up.  Is there an actual rule that states they need to be buttoned.  I tell them they have to button all but the top button.  I see no reason to wear them to cover our street clothes if we do not button them.  Please send me your thoughts and definitely any actual rules that you know of on this subject.

 

Thank you

[zanorias]

"rules" will depend on your regulatory/certification/customer requirements. Are you with SQF? For BRC at least, there is a requirement that:

"7.4.2: Protective clothing shall be available that ... is of suitable design to prevent contamination of the product". It will also depend on your product/process/risk and the interpretation guidelines state "suitable for the production processes".

In my place (cooked meat products), we determine that the overalls buttons are fully fastened. This is the rule from the start and enforced on every person going into the factory, no exceptions. We would record it as an issue during internal audits, and no-one wants to be the guy that put audit points on the department score, and a good reason for the area managers to keep on top of it. It probably also helps that if they didn't have the overalls fastened up, they'd likely have meat and gravy on their personal clothes by the end of the day

Are the 'people' factory operatives? If so I'd bring it up in your next management meeting. I'm all up for all members of staff being able to have their say and raise a concern, but I don't think that you as a QA should repeatedly have to justify the hygiene rules to individual staff who refuse, and it certainly shouldn't be optional once set. If it's senior staff, I'd still insist they comply but may be more difficult enforcing it unfortunately.

 

That said, it may be worth reviewing your clothing requirements if you are unsure whether fully fastened outer shirts are suitable for your production.

[Scampi]

If it's part of the REQUIRED PPE then those employees are not following the company issued procedures.    

 

The best way to remedy this is to involve HR and start writing up repeat offenders......................this is a company culture issue. The company is either with you on this or against...........Good Luck, this sort of thing can be really hard to change

[JohannesTrithemius]

Not only is it a sanitation problem, but it is also a safety issue. What if someone gets their shirt caught in a machine?

I'd consider talking to a few people as a survey and to ask why.Maybe it's too hot in those clothes, or the neck area is too tight. The comment preceding this one is a good answer. 

[majoy]

Ohh my, i feel you. I still have issues with our technicians going out of the facility in their coveralls. and its such a headache.

 

In winter, no issues as they wear winter coats over the coveralls. but summer time - all they want to do is go out and bask in the glory of sunlight in their coveralls.