[Up Front]

In 2010, all 50 states had snow on the ground. For most of the Northern Hemisphere, it has been a very long and tough winter. As someone involved in food safety you need to determine how this will affect your manufacturing, warehousing and transportation programs. But, you won’t figure it out sitting in your office! I suspect it has been several months since you or your food safety team has been on the roof. What has gone on up there since your last visit? With all the moisture, freezing, thawing, buildup of ice and bridging, you shouldn’t be surprised to find a lot of damage, such as broken seals, water damage or leakage. If you haven’t inspected your roof recently, make it a priority. In many ways, the roof is one of the most critical areas of the facility for creating a safe food production environment.

This is just one example of areas that often go unnoticed until issues arise. Generally, rodent pressure is highest in the rainy season when natural habitats are flooded and rodents seek high ground, often a warehouse or processing facility. Cold weather and the reduction of harborage also increase rodent pressure around food processing facilities, so it is important to constantly monitor for issues and modify your controls during these times. The same is true with insects in the warmer months.

The rainy season also causes leaks, condensate, and other moisture issues that increase the chances of Salmonella and mold occurrence. Food safety professionals must understand that these changes create many opportunities for program failure. Often these changes go unnoticed until a failure occurs. Experience, history and past records are great tools you can use to help predict these issues, but getting out of your office and on top of the roof is critical in maintaining control.

Once, during a warehouse inspection in Arizona I noticed water dripping onto product from a roof leak. This took place during an unusual downpour. I brought it up to the manager, and he wanted me to show him the leak immediately. When he observed the water dripping onto the product, he contacted an employee in the area and asked him to cover the product with plastic. I finished the inspection and was reviewing the finding when he asked how I would rate the facility. I indicated that overall it appeared good, but it would be rated as unsatisfactory because I questioned some of his programs and because of the roof leak. He immediately argued that although the roof leaked, I needed to take into consideration that it only rained a few times a year in Arizona. I explained that it does rain and that the roof was there for a reason.

I am sure this winter has caused a lot of roof issues. Get up there to identify the damage and determine corrective actions. And, like all seasonal issues, be aware of them and protect the environment in which you process, store and transport your products. Unusual weather is not an excuse for failure. Your job is to recognize the potential issues and get them corrected. AIB

The author is Vice President of Food Safety Education, AIB International.