Personal Fans in Production Line

Can you implement personal fans on a production line, and if so should this be added to pre-op inspection to ensure cleanliness/sanitizing?

Please help! :)

How would you clean them? AFAIK, they're not designed for easy cleaning.

I would be worried about the physical hazard of broken parts, batteries, and covers falling in to the product.

I would be worried about the physical hazard of broken parts, batteries, and covers falling in to the product.

The fans would not be located in a place where they would "fall" into the product.

It would be on a candy production line, on the end of a wrap-machine.

We already utilize fans in our drying rooms, and have them on a cleaning schedule. (have had no issues with Audits)

The fans would not be located in a place where they would "fall" into the product.

It would be on a candy production line, on the end of a wrap-machine.

 

We already utilize fans in our drying rooms, and have them on a cleaning schedule. (have had no issues with Audits)

I interpreted personal fans as the handheld battery type. 

If you already have approved fans on a cleaning schedule, why not add another one in this room and put it on the cleaning schedule too?

Then, I guess, it would be OK. We're using fans too: in incubation room, where the products are already packed.

You can use fans that are cleanable and set them up on a cleaning schedule and yes you should include inspection of these fans on a pre-op inspection.  One note that I always suggest, try not to have fans blow directly onto product or product zones.

Personal fans could be no-go depending on your GFSI scheme.  I'm heavy on SQF and know personal items are prohibited, I *think* other GFSI's are similar but can't say for sure.  Not to mention regulatory bodies could make them an issue, as in places like the USA:  FDA mandates personal items are to be stored away from food is exposed and utensils are washed under CFR Part 117 GMP's.

Others mentioned the issue with blowing air from your room around on exposed food, can lead to cross contamination issues (but sounds like it's not a factor for OP's process).

If it were my plant and employees were asking for fans, I'd say company should be providing fans so they can control the sanitation of them.

Personal fans could be no-go depending on your GFSI scheme.  I'm heavy on SQF and know personal items are prohibited, I *think* other GFSI's are similar but can't say for sure.  Not to mention regulatory bodies could make them an issue, as in places like the USA:  FDA mandates personal items are to be stored away from food is exposed and utensils are washed under CFR Part 117 GMP's.

 

Others mentioned the issue with blowing air from your room around on exposed food, can lead to cross contamination issues (but sounds like it's not a factor for OP's process).

 

If it were my plant and employees were asking for fans, I'd say company should be providing fans so they can control the sanitation of them.

Hello, and thank you for your information. I know I stated personal fans, but they are company bought fans. I guess the proper term I should've used is ''Station" sorry to confuse.

Can you implement personal fans on a production line, and if so should this be added to pre-op inspection to ensure cleanliness/sanitizing?

 

Please help! :)

These would be fans for each packaging station, not actually a personal employee fan.

...  I'm heavy on SQF and know personal items are prohibited,...

Should probably have been personnel, not personal.