Do shorts pose a food safety risk?

Hi All,

I got an NC on Employees wearing short and i totally agree with Auditor. But its hard to convince Management as according to them
its very hot is summer in a bakery and shorts does not pose any food safety risk to product (even BRC clause 7.4.1 doesn't say any word
about this).
Also i need views on full sleeve smokes (as of now we are using half sleeve).

I reviewed all the old threads but cudn't find much.

Thanks in advance
Uma

Hi Uma; Our workers wear plastic sleeves, when a manufacturing process involves close contact with food and pose a risk for contamination. In other cases they wear short-sleeve uniform. Never has been objected by the auditors or CFIA.

Tell management to get with the current times and get a havoc system that is good for everyone.

If you can't stand the heat, get outta the kitchen! 

But shorts in production?   No.   Just no.

There are some bakeries that do have the shorts. It is all a matter of the risk assessment. You could either

1. Appeal the NC by providing a written risk assessment based on each work station illustrating the minimal risk or;
2. Use the risk assessment along with the NC to show management that it is a risk and the uniforms have to change. You can always come up with an alternative for heat stress management. If there are also safety incidents where people have harmed their legs with cuts, burns, or from cleaning chemicals then that can back you up as well. 

Hi All,

I got an NC on Employees wearing short and i totally agree with Auditor. But its hard to convince Management as according to them
its very hot is summer in a bakery and shorts does not pose any food safety risk to product (even BRC clause 7.4.1 doesn't say any word
about this).
Also i need views on full sleeve smokes (as of now we are using half sleeve).

I reviewed all the old threads but cudn't find much.

Thanks in advance
Uma

Hi Uma,

 

Re ^^^(red) -

 

I think you are correct that threads specifically in BRC-Food are limited however this is a significantly "hot" topic in general.

 

Can browse some of links below which display/recycle  many of the typical objections (and counter-arguments) such as risk assessment, leg hair, worker protection, sartorial aspects.

 

https://www.ifsqn.co...ng/#entry125075

(BRC Food)

https://www.ifsqn.co...re/#entry162057

(BRC Packaging)(also see Post 9 for 9 more threads in various sub-forums)

 

SQF

https://www.ifsqn.co...om/#entry179421

https://www.ifsqn.co...ve/#entry163192