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Senior Management do not believe in the hype

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sqfnewbie

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Posted 24 September 2020 - 05:58 PM

Owner / boss thinks its all propaganda and could careless about new policies and practices.

He did make a statement for washing hands and sanitizer, a few signs went up but only due to staff venting.

 

Nothin in place in the event of an employee gets this virus, even when i mentioned it. In fact i had a scare thru my sons school but it was false.  Yet still once i told my supervisor she told someone who told everyone. I was mad my privacy was violated and when i told the boss he just said work it out with the supervisor.

 

My SQF lead agreed we should have something, so i made a binder full of facts from the Canadian government and provincial government, so at least we can reference it. Boss thinks its a waste of time.

 

sad part is if and when we fail our next audit, probably find a way to blame it on the sqf team. but i'm not given the time to 

 

My team of 6 ppl, all have another primary job, of which takes up 99% of your time.  Pulling teeth just to get some time to do SQF.

3 of those ppl literally haven't lifted one finger. I dont think SQF is a casual position, its a full time position, thats if u really wanna be ready prepared for your audits. 

 

sorry had to vent - its sad when owners dont by in

 

 



DannyGFSC

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Posted 24 September 2020 - 06:14 PM

I am sorry you are dealing with this. Unfortunately, it is way too common for bosses/owners not to see the benefits of food safety. Its important to note that just because the boss says no or thinks food safety is not important, does not mean the QA team is off the hook in the event of a serious foodborne illness or COVID outbreak. It is in your best interest to assure all your communications are well documented. Best of luck!


Best,

 

Danny Carrell

 

Global Food Safety Consultants

Food Safety Consultant

Phone: (559)737-2094

Email: Danny@GlobalFoodSafetyConsultants.com

GlobalFoodSafetyConsultants.com

 


foodguy63

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Posted 24 September 2020 - 07:33 PM

Hey sqfnewbie,

 

I'm sorry as well to hear this. I have been fortunate to work with a management team that has been able to put aside any thoughts about our current situation (positive or negative). One item that really stood out to our team was OSHA's ruling on COVID-19 and how it was an illness explicitly listed as a "lost time injury". Our local health departments were also helpful at making it clear if we didn't put measures in place, an outbreak could mean a shutdown. I'm not sure if a regulatory bodies in Canada have had similar stances, but if you have the ability to frame the situation and how it can be adverse to the business, then management might be more receptive.


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Best,

 

foodguy63


Padfoot

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Posted 24 September 2020 - 08:59 PM

Honestly I don't believe in the hype either, its done, we have to move on. A few members of our team don't feel the same way so i have to check my temp and wear a mask and all that out of respect i guess or because its a policy but honestly I'm over it



MsMars

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Posted 25 September 2020 - 01:46 PM

All I will say is you get what you give. If your company can't give what it takes, they won't get the required outcomes. It's up to you to decide if you want to be around when that time comes. In the mean time, echoing above, documentation. 


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TimG

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Posted 25 September 2020 - 02:24 PM

I guess my question is, has anyone received non-conformances related to COVID? SQF or otherwise?


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rhondak

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Posted 25 September 2020 - 03:10 PM

Hi sqfnewbie,

 

Sorry to hear about your current situation, I agree with foodguy63, the best course of action will be to take it up with your Occupational Health and Safety Manager, or someone in that role. Just because the research shows that COVID isn't a food borne illness, the virus can still be transferred on fomites (such as packaging materials like plastic bag, cardboard boxes etc). Each material can harbour the virus for a specific time period. I think with this information you can arm yourself with enough evidence to help your case and build your documents.

 

Even though your owner doesn't believe that COVID is an issue doesn't dismiss the fact that the entire world is currently facing a pandemic.

 

I hope this helps and wishing you the best :)



kettlecorn

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Posted 25 September 2020 - 03:15 PM

I don't know about NC incidents related to COVID in SQF, but in the US, OSHA has issued fines for facilities that have failed to protect workers: 

 

https://www.dol.gov/.../osha20200911-1



AC2018

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Posted 25 September 2020 - 05:03 PM

We had our audit in July for SQF and our auditor didn't look at anything relating to COVID rules and regulations. I guess it will depend on the auditor though? Our auditor was even fine with not wearing a mask while we were completing the desk audit on our conference room together. We did wear them throughout the plant out of respect for the other employees we were around. 

 

Back to the original question, I think everyone who has commented is on the same page with this... documentation is important and following local regulations is important, no matter what Senior Management thinks. Tough situation though and I hope it all works out. 


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SQFconsultant

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Posted 25 September 2020 - 05:51 PM

I agree with the owners.


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All the Best,

 

All Rights Reserved,

Without Prejudice,

Glenn Oster.

Glenn Oster Consulting, LLC -

SQF System Development | Internal Auditor Training | eConsultant

Martha's Vineyard Island, MA - Restored Republic

http://www.GCEMVI.XYZ

http://www.GlennOster.com

 


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olenazh

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Posted 25 September 2020 - 05:53 PM

I agree with the owners.

You're going to be in trouble again:)


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Padfoot

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Posted 25 September 2020 - 05:53 PM

I agree with the owners.

Lol I agree with you agreeing with the owners 


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kettlecorn

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Posted 26 September 2020 - 02:24 AM

Lol I agree with you agreeing with the owners 

It is nice they aren't concerned about liability and have deep pockets, potentially. See the link about OSHA fines. 

 

Personnel safety is obviously not the same as Food Safety. But a company that disregards the former while claiming to observe the latter makes me question their commitment to the premise of Food Safety. But, to quote a post above, you get what you give. 


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Chippy

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Posted 28 September 2020 - 09:09 PM

I had my audit in May 2020. The audit was supposed to be unscheduled between March 1st and April 30, but we closed down for 2 weeks in March due to employee positives and contacted the CB to let them know- but they didn't tell the inspector (who showed up here when we were not here). After that they made it a scheduled audit for May (late, because he was booked in other places). When he finally got to the audit, he wore his mask from the car to the door, and then only again when we did an outside perimeter walk. He never asked us about any protocol we were following for Covid-19. 


Edited by Chippy, 28 September 2020 - 09:10 PM.


Fred73

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Posted 28 September 2020 - 09:55 PM

I think goes behind disagree or agree with it, if you are a SQF certified site or are trying to get certified, you have to write a plan to cover 2.1.5 requirements, a Crisis management plan, you have to take in consideration a "Pandemic" scenario, as you have probably done a Fire scenario or a Tornado scenario? well then you have to describe HOW you will deal with it ? what steps your organization or team will follow or get done to address "potential dangers that can impact the site's ability to deliver safe food" or at least provide a continuation of the business right?

 

Then if you disagree or agree it does not matter, you get hit by an outbreak in a pandemic and you better be able to demonstrate you have steps in place to follow, otherwise I am sure you could get a NC (as you can get a NC if you have not planed for an infestation scenario? or something that could happen in your site)

That's the way I see it.



Simon

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Posted 29 September 2020 - 08:07 AM

Bricks falling from the sky, what a load of....

:sofa_bricks:

 

I always wanted to use that.


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Fred73

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Posted 12 October 2020 - 01:09 PM

Just want to give an update, we got 2 positives for COVID-19 in the site, and then wow senior management GOT IT... now they want to know what we should do? they got the message, they implemented all the recommendations I was pushing for two weeks, and the CB had to be communicated since we had schedule our audit this week. Good luck everybody, stay safe. 


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GPER

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Posted 13 October 2020 - 06:45 PM

Just want to give an update, we got 2 positives for COVID-19 in the site, and then wow senior management GOT IT... now they want to know what we should do? they got the message, they implemented all the recommendations I was pushing for two weeks, and the CB had to be communicated since we had schedule our audit this week. Good luck everybody, stay safe. 

 

Well, I'm glad they finally "got it".  No matter how we feel about it, we do have a job to do.  I always hate picking up the pieces when they "get it".  I always feel like I told you so, and then I have to rush to fix or implement something ASAP.


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