Glass and Hard Plastic assessment within factory production

Hi everyone! I hope someone can help me with a question about glass and hard plastic control. I am looking for an example of a risk matrix for Glass & Hard Plastic assessment within factory production. Specifically, one that includes assessment of proximity to open product stream or production line (for example what distance to production lines would you consider high risk, medium risk, low risk) Thank you all in advance!

 

I don't perform a risk assessment in production at all. If it's glass/brittle and it's in production, it gets inspected

 

 

Low risk would perhaps be lights etc. in the finished goods warehouse where everything is in cartons

 

Medium risk in dry storage depending on your ingredients/packaging, again, you should only have lights here and they are required to be shatterproof

Hi! Thanks for your answer.

 

We also inspect all the glass/hard plastic/brittle material items, however we are trying to create a procedure where the frequency of inspection depends on the risk assessment, and the distance of the object to the production line is one of the aspects we are aiming to consider. At the moment, we thought of 1m distance as high risk, up to 2m medium and more than 2m low risk. All items would be inspected, however not at the same frequency - for example high risk items would be inspected daily, low risk items might have a 2 weekly frequency. 

The main question is how to assess the risk, in particular the distance, does anyone have experience doing this type of risk assessment? Did anybody consider the distance to production lines and if so, what limits did you establish?

 

Thanks again everyone!

What distance have you set for clearance and inspection in your glass/brittle material breakage procedure?
I'd have thought that anything within that distance would automatically be at the highest risk level, under your proposed scheme.

 

Nonetheless I agree with Scampi's position - if it's in the production area, there is obvious potential for it to get into food, and it is thus high risk. If it breaks and you haven't noticed it at the time, such that it didn't immediately trigger your breakage procedure, then how do you know it hasn't e.g. contaminated someone's protective clothing and then fallen into a product?

Also, why are you monitoring weekly?  Is everything in production shatterproof?

 

I only monitor monthly (and everywhere I've worked too) as the risk is diminished by removing/containing as much as possible to mitigate risk

I don't perform a risk assessment in production at all. If it's glass/brittle and it's in production, it gets inspected

 

 

Low risk would perhaps be lights etc. in the finished goods warehouse where everything is in cartons

 

Medium risk in dry storage depending on your ingredients/packaging, again, you should only have lights here and they are required to be shatterproof

 

I agree above opinion, IMO risk assessment is redundant.

 

Have experienced a NC for non-protected, non-shatterproof, cold storage lights.

Thanks everyone for your answers!

So in summary, in your view, as long as a glass/hard plastic/brittle item is in the production area, no matter what distance, then it is high risk and therefore should be inspected very frequently. If any items are not shatterproof, how frequently would you inspect these items?

Thanks everyone for your answers!

So in summary, in your view, as long as a glass/hard plastic/brittle item is in the production area, no matter what distance, then it is high risk and therefore should be inspected very frequently. If any items are not shatterproof, how frequently would you inspect these items?

Monthly seems to be the industry standard. However you should always be on the lookout for things.

There is a requirement that items that can be, are shatterproof or contained

 

The exception would be items like pressure gauges, thermometers as there is not another option in most cases.

 

11.7.3.2Containers, equipment, and other utensils made of glass, porcelain, ceramics, laboratory glassware, or other similar materials shall not be permitted in food processing /contact zones (except where the product is contained in packaging made from these materials, or measurement instruments with glass dial covers are used, or MIG thermometers are required under regulation).
Where glass objects or similar material are required in food handling/contact zones, they shall be listed in a glass inventory,  including details of their location and condition.

11.7.3.4 

Glass instrument dial covers on processing equipment and MIG thermometers shall be inspected at the start of each shift to confirm they have not been damaged.

Hi,

 

With all these things it is horses for courses and depends on the context of what you do.

 

Our facility has gone down the route of risk assessment and identifying critical glass and hard plastic sources for example anything in a controlled area (packing area), anything in direct contact like a sight glass and anything above an open process. These are audited on a frequent basis. But then our process is largely enclosed, producing a single ingredient with not direct human contact.

 

John  

Working in meat, I have taken the view that if the glass or brittle plastic etc. is on or above the production line, then it needs to be inspected for integrity daily and I include that on the line or area start-up check sheet. I risk assess these by location of item against material it is made from and its likelihood to break. Using the same parameters for items away from the production line, I get lower risk items which are checked weekly or monthly dependant upon where the product is and whether the product is open or closed.