Has anyone used UV-A lamps for surface hygiene inspections?

Hi everyone,

I wanted to ask if anyone here has experience using UV-A lamps for surface inspections in food facilities.

These lamps are being used more often lately in the food industry to detect residues or possible biofilm areas, and I wanted to know how your experience has been if you have used them and exactly what internal protocols you have implemented for their use in your facilities.

I've heard about them being used, I think I used one once but ok, I'm going to get grumpy and old on you.

Until I get convinced that people inspect properly with their eyes and a conventional torch I'm yet to be convinced buying a fancier torch and an AIB style tool belt for it all is worth it. 

I am so tired of going to inspect a machine and finding not just obvious small pieces of debris but whapping great lumps of it that it didn't even take my conventional torch to find.

But when someone convinces me they've nailed that, that's when I'll start looking into UV torches and even ATP swabbing.

People will probably howl with laughter or despair but I'm also going to share my views on biofilms. I don't think biofilm detectors, torches, chemicals etc are worth it. I think biofilms are a risk but I never bother trying to detect them, I bother trying to detect the behaviours that lead to them. For example, ineffective gross debris removal, use of hot water to try and remove debris rather than physical methods (especially high fat debris) cleaning without agitating the detergent. Those kind of things will lead to biofilms over time so I'd rather look for the causes if I'm honest.