All Farm Base

Hygiene Risk Assessment

Producers are required to conduct a written Hygiene Risk Assessment that identifies all the hazards that might threaten the hygiene of the work environment or the final products. Producers are expected to review this assessment annually and update it whenever new hazards arise (e.g. changes of product handling procedures, production of a new product, etc.).

Hygiene Risks

Based on this risk assessment, producers are required to determine and establish strategies to minimize all hygiene-related risks as well as develop hygiene instructions for workers, subcontractors and visitors. (AF.3.2.1)

Hygiene Risks

Recommended Internet Resource: US Department of Health and Human Services, FDA, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition: Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruit and Vegetables, October 1998.

Recommended Internet Resource: WHO Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality, 2008.

Question (QQAF022)
A CB inspector is inspecting a strawberry producer. Which of the following are considered suitable practices when it comes to the implementation of hygiene principles?
The producer supplies workers with suitable hand-washing facilities and toilets.
He trains all the workers on hygiene instructions.
He appoints a supervisor to check the worker’ hygiene aspects (e.g. evidence of cuts on their hands, proper hand washing, smoking habits, etc.) and to take action if needed.
He makes all the workers sign a personal hygiene code of conduct that explains all the hygiene rules on the farm and keeps it in their individual personnel file.
Question (QQAF023)
The CB inspector is reviewing the Hygiene Risk Assessment. The producer indicates that he has found a good example from his neighbor that also covers all the hygiene risks evident on his farm. Is this appropriate?
Yes
No
Correct!
Incorrect!

Producers can facilitate their employees’ good hygiene practices by:

  • Providing sanitary infrastructure for employees.
  • Giving information and training to all employees.
  • Providing supervision to ensure compliance with the hygiene instructions.
  • Making the workers sign the personal hygiene code of conduct. In this case it’s important to consider the level of literacy to ensure that the workers fully understand what they are signing.
Correct!
Incorrect!

Yes, producers may use a generic Hygiene Risk Assessment as long as it applies to the conditions on the farm as well as includes and assesses all the potential risks evident on the farm.