8 replies to this topic

[Vix5]

Hi,

 

I'm looking to introduce a shoe cleaning procedure for standard white shoes worn in a wet bakery environment. At the moment they're cleaned using alcohol wipes which I don't think is sufficient. Industrial cleaning equipment all seems to be geared towards wellingtons or boots so I wondered if anyone could recommend any equipment or alternative method please?

 

Thanks.

[zanorias]

A hoy hoy,

 

Any accreditation standard?

Low/High risk?

[Vix5]

Hi,  the site is BRC accredited, low risk bakery products.

[The Food Scientist]

May I ask why white shoes? If it is low risk, then why are you really cleaning shoes? Have you identified a risk associated with that? 

[Vix5]

Our customer requires us to have a record that shoes have been cleaned once a week. In the meantime though I am putting together an argument against the requirement!

[The Food Scientist]

Wow that's strange, did they give a justification as to why? I worked in a low risk wet bakery environment- SQF, we did not have any shoe cleaning policy nor was it a risk. And all federal & GFSI auditors never asked for it. But I guess you can't argue with a customer because they are YOUR customer. Have they suggested a way for you to clean or just threw that on you that you need to clean? Also, Do they wear those shoes once they walk in or come in with them from home? Perhaps have them clean them at the end of every shift and leave them at work to come the next day to have them cleaned and ready? I have seen floor sinks with hoses that spray water onto the shoes, then they have them dipped in alcohol using a foot bath upon entry. But I have seen that at a high risk facility.

[zanorias]

At the moment they're cleaned using alcohol wipes which I don't think is sufficient.

 

Our customer requires us to have a record that shoes have been cleaned once a week. In the meantime though I am putting together an argument against the requirement!

 

 You don't think cleaning with alcohol wipes is sufficient, but you're also putting together an argument against cleaning the shoes?

 

Out of curiosity, have BRC mentioned anything about your current practise in previous audits? AFAIK for low risk they require only footwear that can easily be cleaned so it sounds as though your customer's requirement is the limiting factor.

 

Wellingtons and a welly wash would be an alternative method of course if financial and practical barriers are not an issue, though likely exceeding requirements.

[Vix5]

To clarify - I'm putting together an argument against having to record that the shoes have been cleaned once a week!  I agree with our customer that the shoes should be cleaned and that alcohol wipes aren't sufficient.

 

Yes, I'm aware that the BRC requirement is for footwear that can be easily cleaned - which is what we have however our customer wasn't happy with the cleanliness of some of the shoes during their visit and would like us to record that they've been cleaned on a regular (weekly!) basis.

 

I really don't want to go down the route of wellingtons etc as that's definitely OTT for our low risk facility.

[larissaj]

shoes or water boots? i was at a company that had white water boots and they had a shoe rack for them to spray them with soap and water and sanitizes everyday with the foamers. put it on the mscs and sign it off when complete.