SQF Audit prep
Hello, we are prepping for our next SQF Audit and have a question concerning 11.3.10 Lunchrooms. We have lockers for our employees but we're getting conflicting comments about what can and can not be kept in them. PPE gear? Food? Personal medicine? Keys/cellphone? Other? Lockers/lunchroom is in a separate building from any production. Thanks!
Employees are to use them for storing their personal clothing, shoes, personal items such as pens, wallet, cell phones, etc.
Medicines should be registered with their supervisor//manager who holds the bottles for dispensing - can't have uncontrolled medicine, oh the nightmares - that way also management gets to see if the employee should be working or not - re-assigned, etc. depending on what the item is.
FOOD must never be stored in lockers, SQF is specific about this. Company is to provide refrigeration or racks for instance for storage of lunchboxes.
I did my fair share of random inspections on lockers and to this day they are in the top 5 trouble spots in a company.
Thank you.
We do provide refrigerators and microwaves and of course plenty of tables & chairs.
OK Glenn, wouldn't this remove the requirement of no food/meds in their lockers?
Lockers/lunchroom is in a separate building from any production
OK Glenn, wouldn't this remove the requirement of no food/meds in their lockers?
Lockers/lunchroom is in a separate building from any production
nope, been in two during audits and both got nailed.
food is an attractant for pests/vermin and meds need to be controlled - regardless of where it is stored by the employee.
we had an employee taking a script narcotic and he left the bottle in his locker and would take them during the day, it created a very big issue.
For any Canadians that may be reading this thread-we cannot ask for an adult to give their prescription medications to HR/supervisor for holding regardless of GFSI requirements
The reason behind the lockers, as Glenn pointed out, is that they become an attraction for pests-SQF requirement that you keep your facility (including outbuildings and outside) clean and free from harborage areas, which would include a separate lunch room
My partners work became infested simply from an employee carrying a pest in the cuff of their pants..........that's all it takes. Do not invite trouble, in this business, their will be more than enough finding you!
I don't think facilities in the US can ask due to HIPAA.
What about PPE gear, such as goggles, masks, face shields? Can those be kept in lockers?
Non disposable sleeves, gloves, hairnets, aprons, etc. don't leave the production area.
What about PPE gear, such as goggles, masks, face shields? Can those be kept in lockers?
Non disposable sleeves, gloves, hairnets, aprons, etc. don't leave the production area.
yes
I don't think facilities in the US can ask due to HIPAA.
hipaa does not prohibit an employer from holding medicine and acting as the timed dispenser during the day.
hipaa does not prohibit an employer from holding medicine and acting as the timed dispenser during the day.
It does prevent asking about such issues. HR is very restricted on what they are even allowed to ask and what they can share with managers and front line supervisors.