Hi Miss Frankie,
I would cover locker inspection as part of my inspections of Staff Amenities as per 2.5.4 Internal Audits and Inspections (Mandatory) at a frequency based on risk and the area where the lockers are located:
Regular inspections of the site and equipment shall be planned and carried out to verify Good Manufacturing Practices and facility and equipment maintenance are compliant to the SQF Food Safety Code: Food Manufacturing.
Previous SQF Guidance reference to lockers typically covers the design of lockers/locker areas not inspection of lockers:
The areas shall be designed so materials and personal items cannot be stored on top of the lockers. The area around and under lockers if not fully sealed, must be able to be easily cleaned. It is generally recommended that lockers be fitted flush with the ceiling and placed on stands raised off the floor to allow ease of cleaning.
From 2.8.1 Allergen Management (Mandatory) your assessment may have led you decide that you needed to inspect lockers at a specific frequency due to allergen risks:
2.8.1.1 The responsibility and methods used to control allergens and to prevent sources of allergens from contaminating product shall be documented and implemented. The allergen management program shall include:
i. A risk analysis of those raw materials, ingredients, and processing aids, including food grade lubricants, that contain food allergens;
ii. An assessment of workplace-related food allergens that may originate from locker rooms, vending machines, lunchrooms, and visitors;
Obviously personal medicines need to be controlled to ensure they do not constitute a risk to product, so they should be prohibited from product areas but may be permitted to be stored in secure lockers along with other personal items. You should also consider how the medicines are packaged for example, exclusion of medicines in glass bottles.
Kind regards,
Tony