SQF 2.3.3 Contract Service Providers

I have just started SQF and had our gap analysis.  We need to have a register of Contract Service Providers which I made.  I have no specifications for them.  I was told that we could just make a register and need to know where their contracts are located.  All of our contracts are verbal and I was also told I can just get a list of the services they provide or a bill and make them sign our visitor GMP's when they come.  Will that be sufficient for SQF?

Can this group of contractors affect your businesses product safety or quality.  If yes then maybe you need more.  If no then they are low risk and what has been suggested may well be sufficient.  Can you give examples of these suppliers?

By the way I moved this topic to SQF from BRC.

Regards,

Simon

Scale Calibration Company- Come and Calibrate our scales every 6 months

Chemical Company-Provide Chemicals and test chemicals monthly

Waste Company- Pick up our waste dumpsters but don't come inside the plant.

Pest Control Company- We do have a contract for

Laundry Services- Provide our uniforms

Outside Lab Services- Where we send our samples for testing

Proficiency testing Services- send us our proficiency testing samples

Lawn & Snow Removal - cut lawn and remove snow

Boiler Chemical Services- Provide boiler chemicals and test them monthly

Metal Detector Calibration-Calibrate metal detector yearly

Thermometer Calibration- We send our thermometer to them yearly to calibrate.

Am I missing anything?

Jportz, here are some others on my approved suppliers who provide services.  Like you most of them are on a verbal contract and just provide a bill or list of services.  In addition to the GMP register I also have specific training for those doing work in our plant that are not our employees.  It covers GMP, Safety, Project clean up, and sanitary design (for welders, fabricators, and building contractors).  Good luck

Utilities

Maintenance services (plumbers/welders/electricians/motor &pump repair/ building contractors...

Forklift repair

Food vending services

G

A lot of those suppliers on your list I would expect to see supplier quality assurance activities for.

For example laundry are at least medium risk maybe even high.  I would expect to see things like service specification, chemicals used, traceability, supplier questionnaire, their safety/hygiene system, HACCP, perhaps even an audit of their site.

A lot of those suppliers on your list I would expect to see supplier quality assurance activities for.

 

For example laundry are at least medium risk maybe even high.  I would expect to see things like service specification, chemicals used, traceability, supplier questionnaire, their safety/hygiene system, HACCP, perhaps even an audit of their site.

Indeed...and another example, your outside laboratory: I would prove they are an accredited laboratory by obtaining a certificate to that effect.  Depending on what they test for you, it could be a high risk supplier.

Hi,

Instead of making the Contractors sign a "contract agreement", you could develop some food safety expectations.

For example:

Contractor: Pest Control Technician.

Food Safety Expectation:

1. handling pest control chemicals with approved PCP #s.

2. Reporting of pests (both insects and rodents) to support trend analysis.

3. Pesticides are restricted inside facility.

4. Hairnets and boot covers must be worn when servicing interior traps.

etc. etc.

You can then do a risk assessment of the contractor and idenitfy any hazards that may be introduced into the facility (e.g. chemicals, microbiological contamination from PCT, etc.).

Then train them on the GMPs in your facility and make them sign a training record identifying the GMPs you trained them on and the food safety expectations. You also have a risk assessment for the auditor. You can scorecard them like you would your suppliers and evaluate their performance (e.g. viability of data for trend analysis, validation of pest control PRP and the effectiveness of the PCT, cost, etc.).

Lance

A lot of those suppliers on your list I would expect to see supplier quality assurance activities for.

 

For example laundry are at least medium risk maybe even high.  I would expect to see things like service specification, chemicals used, traceability, supplier questionnaire, their safety/hygiene system, HACCP, perhaps even an audit of their site.

Hi Simon,

We are small company and we only have 3 workers in the production area. Our cover clothes are brought home for laundry by the workers themselves, or sometimes brought to a laundry service shop for cleaning. What can I do for that? Thank you so much.

Michelle

Get a,contract or,agreement from each one.

Recently, we had a SQF audit and the auditor told us to conduct a risk assessment in regards to food safety for our contract service providers. Can anyone tell me what are the points or parameters that should be considered in conducting a risk assessment? Does anyone have a format specific for contract service providers?