By Shane Rimmel and Adrin Carter, Food Consulting Services
Requirements starting from Level 4 Lockdown have indicated that businesses are required to perform a risk assessment for the spread of COVID-19 to ensure that such risk is minimised. At FCS we understand the need to manage risk, and through our hygiene audits, microbiological testing and consulting, have helped our clients for over 40 years to manage risks related to hygiene and food safety.
This extensive experience in hygiene risk management provides us with a unique insight into being able to monitor and reduce the risks, especially when considering the fundamentals of minimising the risk of the spread of COVID-19:
- Wash and Sanitise your hands before and after touching your face, going to the toilet or handling any potentially contaminated surfaces.
- Sneeze and cough into the bend of your elbow or into a tissue that needs to be disposed of immediately.
- Keep a good social distance and eliminate contact between individuals.
- Effective cleaning and sanitising protocols and the monitoring thereof.
We have been open since the Level 5 lockdown and have been servicing clients that have also been open, or in the preparation of opening. During this period we have observed a variety of interpretations of the risk assessment requirements, where several organisations have had some requirements in place whilst missing others. Without the expertise in and understanding of effective cleaning and sanitising, micro-organisms and cross-contamination; the risk reduction strategies have varied widely in its effectiveness.
Through discussions with our clients and experts in the industry, we recognised the need for a standardised system that could measure the level of compliance and readiness to open for business and stay open throughout the lockdown levels.
We have thus officially launched our COVID-19 Risk Assessment Audit for 9 separate industries. The audit is developed based on the risk reduction strategies from the Department of Health, NICD, WHO and NIOH. Requirements based on our own extensive experience in hygiene management and cross-contamination control, which forms the foundation of this audit.
The COVID-19 Risk Assessment Audit will cover the following risk reduction sections:
- Cleaning and sanitising, focusing on frequent touch areas
- Supply and use of hand washing and sanitising facilities
- Supply, control and use of PPE
- Social distancing
- Ventilation and air quality
- Cleaning and control of toilets
- Staff screening
- Procedures, policies and records about COVID-19 risk reduction
This audit, when performed by a qualified FCS auditor, will form a credible and independent reference point to the status of your internal risk management for the spread of COVID-19.
The COVID-19 Risk Assessment Audit and Sanitation Verification Swabs will provide a valuable and credible reference tool to assist in improving your systems and to independently verify your commitment to and efficiency in controlling the spread of COVID-19 in your facility.
Our cloud-based audit app allows us to provide an immediate report of the risk assessment, which includes:
- A risk-weighted scored report with photographs.
- A corrective action report highlighting areas of concern to improve on.
- A Covid-19 Audit Certificate for display or record purposes that will demonstrate the achieved level of compliance.
The microbiological analysis report of the surface swabs, hand swabs and air plates (as needed) from our ISO 17025 accredited laboratory will be sent through within 7 working days.
We have created a full package for managing the risk of COVID-19 which consists of:
- Free to access Standard Operating Procedures
- Free to access Compliance Checklists
- Free to access Awareness Posters
- Free to access Online Awareness Training
- Sanitation verification swabs of high contact surfaces and hands
- COVID-19 Risk Assessment Audit
FCS Sanitation Verification Swabs
Although Covid-19 viral swabs to test surfaces are becoming available, they are costly and there are many questions surrounding their accuracy.
FCS has been performing surface swabs which detect bacteria for the last 40 years. Surfaces and hands which have been effectively cleaned and sanitised should have very low levels of bacteria.
It stands that if all detectible microorganisms are eliminated using the correct chemicals and techniques, there is a high chance that viruses would have been eliminated too. This would, in turn, prescribe that virus spread, and elimination is under control.
FCS can swab high contact surfaces such as toilets, taps, door handles, biometric readers, counters, point of sale areas, credit card keypads, telephones, railings etc. and test them for bacterial numbers. This will scientifically prove AND document that effective cleaning and sanitising has taken place.
COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and Readiness Checklists
As businesses begin reopening and operating during the various levels of lockdown, there will be a requirement and obligation on these businesses to prove that there is a system in place to manage the risk of spreading COVID-19.
FCS have put together post lockdown opening procedures and checklists to help businesses open safely.
Once your business is open, we have developed comprehensive, continued operating procedures and checklists for all business types. This is to ensure the safe operation of your business for your staff, clients and any other stakeholders. All procedures and checklists are available from our website: https://foodconsulting.co.za/covid-19-post-lockdown-checklists-procedures/
About Food Consulting Services
Food Consulting Services (FCS) is a private South African owned Food Testing Laboratory and Food and Hygiene Safety Consultancy formed in 1977. FCS operates a SANAS accredited microbiology laboratory to ISO 17025 in Midrand. FCS hygiene auditors operate across Southern Africa with bases in Gauteng, Durban and Cape Town.
FCS has built strong Food Safety and Hygiene partnerships with many of Southern Africa’s largest and most blue-chip Food Retailers, Food Manufacturers, Hotels, Restaurants and Food Service Companies.
To find out how you too could benefit from FCS’s excellent service and pricing structure, contact us now, and let us become your Hygiene and Food Safety partners
About the Authors:
Shane Rimmell is a director and shareholder of FCS and holds a BSc in Microbiology and BCom in Risk and Financial Management. He has 24 year’s experience in the food and hygiene testing, consulting and auditing industry.
Adrian Carter is the hygiene survey manager at FCS and holds a BSc in Microbiology. He has over 13 year’s experience in the food and hygiene testing, consulting and auditing industry.
