Water Dispenser in Office - OK or Remove?

Hi All!

I would like to know from somebody who has their company audited by AIB already, if it is allowed to have a hot-&-cold water dispenser inside an office without a pantry area?

My company is a 3rd party logistics provider to a meat processing plant (we manage the storages and dispatch). Our office is situated in a general access area, connected but outside the production and logistics facilities. our client company has their office nearby (20 meters away with regulars-only secured access) and has their own pantry. We have 25 people in the office doing admin works, and are not in direct contact with the processed meat products. and sometimes our office holds meetings also since we have a conference table. however, we were advised to remove our sole water dispenser and all drinking containers due to "compliance". Please help to clarify if we could retain the water dispenser, since the canteen is quite far and a bit bothersome to go to if we want to re-hydrate.

Thank you in advance!

Good Morning MDT Tan, I would have no issue with a water dispenser in an office and we ourselves have one. Ours is maintained by an outside company, built for purpose and is from a reputable source. If your concerned about it why not do a good old risk assessment and document it. If an auditor did say anything (i doubt it), then it shows you have considered it, even though this is probably overkill.

It simply has no effect to the product, if is from a good source and the dispenser is fit for purpose, it has no effect on the staff apart from re-hydrating them.

Good Luck

DW

SQF3 facility here, we have bottled water cooler/dispensers in the plant itself for employee use in production and it's fine.

Same rules as always: water only, employees wash after drinking before returning to line, maintain to same standard as a drinking fountain.

Thank you very much, sirs daddywelsh and FurFarmandFork, for your advices.

We will discuss this with our client and hopefully they will consider to let us retain our dispenser.

however, we were advised to remove our sole water dispenser and all drinking containers due to "compliance"

 

.(Post 1)

By a (AIB?) consultant ? If so, why so ?

What standard are you using?

What standard are you using?

OP says AIB

.(Post 1)

 

By a (AIB?) consultant ? If so, why so ?

Hi sir Charles!

The removal of the water dispenser is as per advice of our client company.

the client company is the one to be audited by AIB, with an unannounced schedule of audit that might happen up to December 2017.

reason is because we have no pantry area in our office as designated area to place the dispenser.

Hi sir Charles!

 

The removal of the water dispenser is as per advice of our client company.

the client company is the one to be audited by AIB, with an unannounced schedule of audit that might happen up to December 2017.

reason is because we have no pantry area in our office as designated area to place the dispenser.

Hi MDT Tan,

I deduce "pantry" = a plan designated cafeteria/canteen.

I also wonder if this is the first time you are approaching an audit with this client ?

As you can see from previous Posts and also IMEX various FS standards (at least IMEX BRC and SQF[post3 above] are totally oblivious to the presence of "water dispensers" even in the production area (it's always been to my surprise). This topic has been discussed here before at some length with from memory near totally agreed auditorial results as above but not afaik discussed directly for AIB.

I can only wonder if yr client Company may have some particular previous experience/specific Standard clause with AIB to justify their suggestion. Or perhaps they are simply being ultra-cautious.

You could perhaps (politely) ask yr client if there is any AIB-related reason, otherwise I guess it depends on how hard you are willing to "push" with yr "evidences".

Unfortunately afaik there are only a few posters here with direct experience AIB and they don't seem to be around at this moment.

Hi MDT Tan,

 

I deduce "pantry" = a plan designated cafeteria/canteen.

I also wonder if this is the first time you are approaching an audit with this client ?

 

As you can see from previous Posts and also IMEX various FS standards (at least IMEX BRC and SQF[post3 above] are totally oblivious to the presence of "water dispensers" even in the production area (it's always been to my surprise). This topic has been discussed here before at some length with from memory near totally agreed auditorial results as above but not afaik discussed directly for AIB.

 

I can only wonder if yr client Company may have some particular previous experience/specific Standard clause with AIB to justify their suggestion. Or perhaps they are simply being ultra-cautious.

 

You could perhaps (politely) ask yr client if there is any AIB-related reason, otherwise I guess it depends on how hard you are willing to "push" with yr "evidences".

 

Unfortunately afaik there are only a few posters here with direct experience AIB and they don't seem to be around at this moment.

I believe our Client Company is being "ultra-cautious", since this is the first time we will encounter an AIB audit. i've been here with them for nearly 10 years, and all thoughout assisted in their external audits. so i think my client just wants to pass the AIB at first try.

i'll follow the advice in this thread, since this water dispenser in our office is too far to the production area and definitely will not cause cross-contam'n to the products.

i might also add up as policy that we will be using clear plastic water containers with pop-up openings.

Thanks very much!

Hello MD Tan,

It is my first time to know that a water dispenser is not allowed in the production office. IMPOV, there is no food safety issue here. One issue would arise if your were audited by your custumer/buyer for social compliance and I'm they would insist that you would provide drinking fountain to your worker. Seems contradicting but it is true.

regards,

redfox

Hi Redfox,

I tend to agree yr POV however i might note that there is a different issue mentioned in the OP which, depending on the details, could be unacceptable for some  FS auditors.

The OP states that the Production office is directly connected to the Production area. This accessibility route would be unallowed for some official Standards unless the office has no other "external" access points. But AIB is maybe not an issue either way.

Hi redfox

Agree also that social/OSH issues may arise if the water dispenser will be taken out of our office.

We included this point into our position letter.

Thank you!