In our experts' visits to food production plants, they see many outstanding food safety procedures that can be shared as best practices. One of the easiest and most beneficial best practices to adopt is the proper storage of food contact and cleaning tools. Selecting the right tools for specific tasks can mean a significant investment of time and other resources. A good storage plan for those tools will help to protect that investment while enhancing food safety efforts.
The way a food contact or cleaning tool is stored is almost as important as the tool itself. Implementing a hygienic tool storage system takes some time and effort, but it will also provide many benefits once set up correctly. These benefits include better organization, prolonged tool lifespans, and better site hygiene.
From an organizational perspective, having a storage plan ensures that tools are where you need them when you need them. Production line supervisors can check defined tool locations at the end of each shift. Showing a visual representation of the tools designated for the area, like with shadow boards, enables each supervisor to quickly verify if tools are missing and identify the correct part number for any tools that need to be reordered. Also, tools go missing less often when a storage plan is specified.
Tools should be stored neatly in an area that allows adequate space to keep them from colliding or bumping against other objects. Rough contact with other objects can potentially cause breakage, which introduces a foreign body contamination risk.
Additionally, bristles on brushes and brooms can become misshapen and tangled if they are allowed to rest directly on the floor or on other surfaces for extended periods. It’s a good idea to regularly inspect tools for wear or extraneous damage. If the storage method is contributing to wear, it’s time to make a change. Getting the maximum lifespan out of food contact tools translates to better operational efficiency.
The most important consideration of a storage system for food contact and cleaning tools is that tools are maintained in a sanitary state before being put to use again. Floors are a common surface in a facility for the transport of contaminants, so tools that have been cleaned should be stored off of the floor using a wall bracket or other sanitary mounting option. This is particularly imperative for tools that directly or indirectly contact food, as a tool that has touched the floor introduces a great risk of contamination. In this sense, designating a tool storage location that suspends tools off the ground can protect the integrity of your code-compliant facility and your end product.
Once the tool storage plan has been identified, it should be included in the written food safety plan for the facility. If you need help or guidance with your tool storage program, call Vikan. That’s what we’re here for. We can help you determine the best practices to maintain hygiene in your facility.
For more information, download a copy of our white paper, “Selection, Care and Maintenance Guide for Food Contact Tools and Equipment.”
