When it comes to food safety, some of the most important employees in any food manufacturing facility are the members of the sanitation crew. Sanitation employees are an essential component of any food manufacturing operation. They are responsible for maintaining the cleanliness and hygiene of the facility and ensuring that all equipment, surfaces, and utensils are free from any contaminants that could compromise the safety and quality of the food being produced.

Food safety is (as it must be) a top priority in any food manufacturing facility, and it is the responsibility of every employee to ensure that the food produced is safe for consumption. Sanitation employees, however, play one of the most direct and critical roles in this process because they are ultimately responsible for ensuring that the conditions within the facility will prevent the survival and growth of harmful bacteria and other contaminants. Without proper sanitation, food can easily become contaminated and cause foodborne illnesses and/or large-scale recalls, which can be detrimental to the health of consumers and damaging to the reputation of the company.

Sanitation employees are also responsible for ensuring that the conditions within the facility meet all regulatory cleanliness and sanitation standards. FDA and USDA are now routinely “testing” the effectiveness of companies’ sanitation programs by conducting wide-sweeping swab-a-thons during regulatory inspections. If the sanitation crew doesn’t routinely do an exceptional job, the overall condition of the processing environment can quickly degrade, and harmful pathogens will be allowed to spread, further infect, and multiply.

In addition to ensuring food safety and regulatory compliance, overall cleanliness and sanitation is also important not for aesthetic reasons and, by extension, the overall morale and productivity of the employees. A clean and organized workspace can improve employee satisfaction and reduce the risk of accidents or injuries. Indeed, all employees would likely agree that they would much rather work in a facility where the floors are clean and free from debris, as opposed to a facility where the floors are littered with ingredients and finished product.

Sanitation employees often work nearly invisibly, behind the scenes, and thus may not routinely (or ever) receive the recognition they truly deserve. Despite the lack of recognition, they are some of the most important employees in any food manufacturing facility. Without their dedication and hard work, the facility would not be able to produce safe and high-quality food products. It is important to recognize the important role that sanitation employees play in the food manufacturing process and to show them the appreciation and respect they deserve.

So, be sure that, next time you see one, give him or her a hug.

Hug a sanitation employee today

Join for free* to continue reading.