Safety in the workplace depends on the conditions of the space. In the context of our flexible barriers, the phrase "meets sanitary requirements" appears, but what does it actually mean?
Most often, when we talk about sanitary rigors, we mention the conditions in which production takes place in the food or pharmaceutical industry. There are many factors that are taken into account to ensure the safety and hygiene of products, e.g. food. Here are some key elements that are taken into account to ensure that safeguards are also safe for food production.
Cleanliness: protective barriers should be easy to clean and keep clean, and regularly disinfected.
Food safety: if used in places where they come into contact with food, they must meet appropriate food safety standards, such as HACCP requirements and other sanitary and epidemiological regulations in force in a given region. They should be made of materials that are easy to clean and disinfect and that are approved for food contact.
Resistance to chemicals: protection should be resistant to disinfectants that are used to maintain hygiene in production places.
Resistance to environmental conditions: humidity, variable temperatures or simply very low temperatures that do not allow microorganisms to develop. In a word, environmental conditions should not affect the durability and effectiveness of barriers.
Certification and compliance with standards: depending on the industry and area of application, flexible protective barriers should be subjected to various certifications and tests to confirm their compliance with specific sanitary standards and requirements.
Safety barriers, especially those used in places where food is processed, must meet a number of food safety standards to ensure that food products are protected from contaminants and health hazards. Here are some key standards.
HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points): HACCP is a food safety management system that identifies, assesses and controls food safety hazards throughout the production process. Safety barriers should comply with HACCP principles to ensure that the risk of food contamination is minimized. In the context of HACCP, the flexible barrier would need to comply with food safety control guidelines, which includes identifying potential health hazards associated with the production, storage and handling of food and identifying critical control points in the production process to minimize the risk of these hazards occurring.
FDA (Food and Drug Administration): If safety barriers are used in the United States, they must meet FDA food safety and hygiene requirements to ensure compliance with federal food regulations. As for the FDA, this body regulates the safety of food, drugs, cosmetics, dietary supplements, and other consumer products in the United States. Meeting FDA requirements means that the flexible barrier would have to be made of materials that are safe for food contact and do not contain toxic substances or other contaminants that could pose a threat to consumers' health.
ISO 22000: ISO 22000 is an international standard for food safety management that specifies requirements for a food safety management system worldwide.
Industry certifications: There are also industry-specific certifications that may be required depending on the type of food processed or the industry in which the company operates. For example, in the case of organic production, safety barriers may be subject to organic certification, such as USDA Organic certification.
Local and national standards: in addition, safety barriers must meet sanitary and epidemiological standards and regulations in force in a given country or region. Many countries have their own food safety regulations that specify hygiene and safety requirements in food processing areas.
All these factors are important for maintaining high sanitary standards, for example in the production of food and medicines, and minimize the risk of health loss for consumers.
Anter System flexible barriers are designed and manufactured to maintain the highest standards of hygiene and food safety, so that their use complies with local and European regulations. The quality of the barriers meets the requirements of: HACCP, FDA, ISO 22000, and is also confirmed by TÜV Rheinland.
