COLOUR-CODING SAVES COSTS,
CROSS CONTAMINATION
www.foodtechnology.co.nz 55
Environmental
Listeria detection in
less than 60 minutes
conducting investigations in near-real time
and fix Listeria issues before they become
a serious problem.
Fort Richard offers culture media,
equipment, consumables and rapid
testing solutions to meet most laboratory
requirements. Select from a wide variety
of food testing systems from Neogen®, the
world’s most complete line of food safety
diagnostics.
For more information visit Fort Richard’s
website or contact us directly for technical
support and advice.
www.fortrichard.com
Listeria Right Now™
PROCESSING, HANDLING & STORAGE SYSTEMS
Building systems for the food, chemical,
agricultural and waste treatment industries
- Particle Size Reduction
- Milling
- Crushing
- Sifting
- Classifying
- Mixing
- Weighing
- Metering
- Pelleting
- Agglomeration
- Extruding
- Bulk Materials Handling
- Drying
- Cooling
- Conveying
- Packaging
- Storage Systems
STAND 2102
55B Druces Road, Manukau, Auckland, NZ
Tel: 09 263 6926
Email: admin@graintech.co.nz
www.graintech.co.nz
FT528
Colour-coding is an effective and
easily understood way of minimising
cross contamination, according
to Wells Hygiene. With proper
implementation, the benefits of a
colour-coding system can outweigh
the costs.
While it is not yet a firm requirement
by law, colour-coding is often looked
upon favourably by customers and
inspectors as a practice that shows
a company’s commitment to food
safety.
How to develop a successful
colour-coding system
Developing a colour-coding system
for your business is easy, and
there’s great benefits to keeping the
system as simple as you can. Limit
the number of colours used and
don’t try to assign colours for each
and every step of a process.
It’s also important for you to pick
logical colours per area. Ensure
that the colours you select make
sense to your plant supervisors
and employees alike. Do particular
colours seem to logically symbolise
zones or the food products
processed in your facility?
And if you can avoid complicated
colour combinations then you’re
on your way to achieving you goal.
Mixing brush/squeegee heads and
handle colours can sometimes result
in confusion.
Other important factors to consider
include:
• Roll out the colour-coding
programme all at once.
• Implement your colour-coding
system within the zones affected
all at once; have a definite end
date for your old system and start
date for your new colour-coded
system.
• Good communication is key.
• Meet with each of your shift
managers first, then roll out the
programme to employees.
• Reinforce the colour-coding with
good signage, shadow boards, or
colour coded equipment storage
(e.g. wall brackets).
• Make it clear (use images or
multilingual text if necessary).
• Be sure your tools and storage
areas match.
• Make sure the tools are stored
in the same area where they are
used to further avoid confusion
and cross-contamination.
• Colour-coding plan and equipment
maintenance.
• Regularly monitor and review your
colour-coding plan, and check and
maintain your cleaning equipment,
to maximise your control of crosscontamination.
• Follow through... utilise the same
documentation at point of use,
with your Purchasing Department
and with your quality manager so
everyone can work to the same
system.
Wells offers a comprehensive range
of colour-coded cleaning tools and
equipment, and equipment storage
options such as colour-coded
wall brackets, all supported by
documentation on aspects such as
food contact approval and technical
specifications. Wells also provides
a free and confidential colour-coded
site plan development service to its
customers.
If you require any further information
about any Wells Hygiene product or
service contact: NZ on +64 9 263
9332 or sales@wellshygiene.co.nz,
or AUS +61 3 9699 8999 or
sales@wrdwells.com.
This Neogen® ANSR® product is an
enrichment-free environmental monitoring
tool for Listeria detection. With results
available in under an hour, corrective
action can be taken swiftly and re-testing
is quick, clean and easy.
Listeria Right Now™ is ‘culture
independent’, avoiding the need for
growing pathogens in your facility or risk
of exposure to trace-backs tied to retained
cultures.
Be more flexible and pro-active with your
environmental testing – benefit from
customerservice@fortrichard.com • Freecall 0508 369 369
FT568
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