18 replies to this topic

[Cheese89]

Hello,

 

According to BRCGS standard 7.2.1, artificial nails—including fake nails, acrylics, and extensions—are prohibited.

Are employees with real nails that have polish on them allowed to wear gloves at all times while on the production or packaging room floor?

[Setanta]

Not in my house. Too many variables...the first of which is 'What if you need to move people around?'

[Scampi]

Assuming you are in a cheese house (aka federally inspected legacy plant) CFIA does NOT permit it..............so since you 1st need to follow the LAW, and 2nd your GFSI it is a resounding NO

[nwilson]

Anyone handling materials in a processing area cannot wear polish, its a big no, and also the reason we do weekly nail and handwashing verifications, to catch this prior to being allowed in the plant.  If you are visitor (not a contractor they follow the same rules) then I allow them in the plant with gloves on.  

 

Nail polish will chip off and even with gloves there's a probability of contamination

[Tony-C]

Hi Cheese89,

 

To add to previous replies, the only reason gloves would be allowed to prevent product contamination would be as a temporary measure for visitors. See quote from BRCGS Guidance below.

 

‘Long fingernails are not permitted, as they are a contamination hazard since they may break off; nor are nail varnish, nail art or false nails. Fingernails must be kept clean, commensurate with the level of hygiene expected within a food manufacturing environment. Where visitors cannot comply with these rules, other controls (such as limiting where visitors may enter and what they may touch, and the obligatory use of gloves) must be implemented to minimise the risk of contamination.’

 

Kind regards,

 

Tony

Edited by Tony-C, 16 May 2025 - 06:12 AM.

[Cheese89]

Hello Tony,

 

Thank you for your email. Could you please tell me what would be the exact clause that i should be looking for in BRCGS standard?

[GMO]

Hello Tony,

 

Thank you for your email. Could you please tell me what would be the exact clause that i should be looking for in BRCGS standard?

 

It's clause 7.2.1.  I always try to never allow the visitor exemption.  I think it's awful for culture but it's permitted within the interpretation guide.

[Cheese89]

Hello all,

 

Thank you for all the feedback. I have one more question related to the jewelry policy: Are ear piercings for migraines and tongue piercings allowed in a food plant

[GMO]

Ear piercings for migraines?  That's a new one for me.  A quick google says "no medical evidence that works" which is good enough for me.

 

No piercings on open parts of the body.  Including the tongue.  I don't need to know if you have a Prince Albert piercing.  Do not google that at work.

[Setanta]

No earrings. In the past, I have allowed for new piercings to be covered by a metal detectable bandage for the healing period.

 

I am not going to check for other piercings. If your tongue is pierced, it is my understanding you will know if you lose that one, right away.

 

Anything else is Below the Area of MY Concern or held close by clothing. 

[MDaleDDF]

  I don't need to know if you have a Prince Albert piercing.  Do not google that at work.

Now THIS is a Friday thread.....
 

[TimG]

Now THIS is a Friday thread.....
 

OK so this one has been sitting in my brain and I couldn't share it with anyone because...yeah.

The LAB/QUALITY MANAGER of a facility I was compliance manager of was out having a few pops with me and my girl one Friday. I think I set him up on a date with a girl I knew so it was a blind date thing for him.

Anyway..after a few the topic came to how our rules in our jobs were different (my gf is in medical, us 2 dudes in food manufacturing, the other girl in banking) and we were talking about piercings being a no go in 2 of our industries. The lab manager guy just started giggling uncontrollably and bragging that him and I yell at people all the time (we don't yell, but yeah how many times do I have to hear 'Oh yeah I forgot to take the earing out') and how he has both nips pierced and a PA..I did not even know what a PA was before that discussion.

This guy is the most Poindexter lab manager you could imagine..

[GMO]

Ooh I have got on a saucy topic now!  There was an ops manager who did tell me about his PA and how he couldn't stand too close to the metal detector...  Hmm.

 

But back to food safety.  I still say no to plasters over piercings too.  Sorry I'm a bit mean on this.  You work in the food industry.  It's clear the rules.  Sorry guys and girls.  Get pierced where I can't see it and I am still no go on tongue.

[jfrey123]

Hello all,

 

Thank you for all the feedback. I have one more question related to the jewelry policy: Are ear piercings for migraines and tongue piercings allowed in a food plant

 

Only if it comes with a doctor's note, which in that case you'd have a hard time legally refuting.  Anything else is anecdotal non-sense.

 

Back to nail polish/fake nails real quick since we're turning it into a Friday thread:  We put a supplier on hold last year due to a failed farm packinghouse audit.  They responded, got reaudited and passed, and we told them we wanted to review the n/c's and the replies from the re-audit to re-approve.  One n/c was for not having titration strips to test sanitizer solution, to which they replied they bought titration strips and supplied a photo of the strips...  being held in hand for the photo... on the facility floor... by the QA Manager... who had false fingernails that protruded out at least as far as the distance to her first knuckle.  Sorry Freddy Krueger, your facility isn't being re-approved.

 

They also got dinged for not using smocks or aprons on a processing line.  They responded that they bought plastic single use aprons and gloves for employees on that line (ew, bad solution), but for the evidence photo they showed an employee working the conveyor belt... wearing the plastic gloves and apron... with a fur lined jacket that puffed out all around the apron.  Doubled down on not re-approving.  Just friggin' clueless...

[GMO]

Only if it comes with a doctor's note, which in that case you'd have a hard time legally refuting.  Anything else is anecdotal non-sense.

 

Looking at the evidence online, I can't see any actually qualified doctor doing so.  Here's an article for example:

 

Can a Piercing Ease Migraine?

 

The positive feedback on it is not by blind trial.  Placebo effects are crazy strong.  That is almost certainly what is happening here.

 

They'd also have to include in any note that a) it's proven and b) it's proven to only be effective if retained in the piercing 100% of the time.  Neither of which I can find any evidence for a, let alone b.  So nope dude.  Doesn't pass for me.

[Bo16]

FDA GMPs state: 21 CFR 117.10 Personnel b. (4) Removing all unsecured jewelry and other objects that might fall into food, equipment, or containers, and removing hand jewelry that cannot be adequately sanitized during periods in which food is manipulated by hand. If such hand jewelry cannot be removed, it may be covered by material which can be maintained in an intact, clean, and sanitary condition and which effectively protects against the contamination by these objects of the food, food-contact surfaces, or food-packaging materials.

 

We have a policy that includes notification to the supervisor and appropriate coverings for any jewelry/implants that cannot be removed.  We have seen an uptake in employees with surgically implanted jewelry.  (More so on the face than on the hand).  This is done on a case by case basis, with Quality Committee approval (HACCP, QA etc.)

[TimG]

It's always been a hot topic since I've been in food safety. I'm sure BRC has a standard above and beyond FDA because the FDA code gives quite a bit of wiggle room (I've always been in SQF and AIB schemes never BRC).

 

 We sent someone home an hour ago because they came in with nail polish, fake eyelashes, and fake nails. They were told in the interview, initiation training, the GMP training we JUST had in this month's training, and then a 1on1 with the translator in case they didn't understand the training (it's all in the persons first language) they still came in like  .

[GMO]

The problem I find is people with semi permanent options.  So eyelashes which are professionally glued in and gel nails which are hard to remove.  So the bottle of nail varnish remover at reception in one place just wouldn't cut it.

 

I don't get it.  You're spending 8 hours minimum in a white coat and wellies.  This is not Saturday night down the Bigg Market in Newcastle people.

[whateva]

Interesting topic. No for moi. Too many excuses....have the nail polish remover handy.