Riverwest Standard Operating Procedures

SCOPE

To provide Riverwest Processing with a Standard Operating Procedure for Good Manufacturing Practices.

Responsibilities

It is the responsibility of the Riverwest Processing Management, Employees, Visitors, and Service Personnel to meet the minimum requirements for good manufacturing practices when entering or working at the Riverwest Processing facility.

It is the responsibility of the Riverwest Processing Management to enforce this policy. Good Manufacturing Practices are considered the law and shall be enforced.

The Minimum Requirements

1. Persons directly involved in production and processing areas should be fit and capable of carrying out their duties effectively. Carriers of food borne infections must be excluded from contact with the entire Riverwest Processing Facility until a doctor’s note is received documenting that the employee has recovered and is able to return to work.
2. No person shall be permitted to work in contact with food, or other food handlers, who is suffering from any infection, which may spread via food (particularly, gastro-intestinal disorders, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.). The established procedure for reporting illnesses to Manager/Supervisor must be followed.
3. No person having untreated boils, sores, cuts, or grazes should be allowed to work in direct contact with almonds. All injuries must be reported and suitably treated. Sores, cuts, and grazes must be covered, after treatment, with a conspicuously colored waterproof dressing incorporated with a metal strip (for ease of detection in case of accidental loss).
4. All persons handling food products and persons who enter the production/processing areas for any reason must wear clean clothing or be provided protective clothing. Personal garments must not be worn over the protective clothing unless weather/climate conditions justify this action. If personal garments are worn, they must be clean. Shirt pockets must remain empty of any items that can possibly fall out and into the product. Pens and pencils can be placed securely inside clothing pockets only if located below the waist.
5. All personnel entering the production area must wear a clean hairnet. Long hair must be contained inside the hair net. Hair clips, pins, etc. are not allowed to be worn outside the hairnet.
6. Beard nets must be worn in all food production areas. Facial hair must be trimmed so that it does not extend below the upper lip and/or corners of the mouth. Side burns grown below the ear are considered a beard and must be covered.
7. Suitable (preferably non-skid) footwear must be worn. No open toe or open back shoes are allowed.
8. Unless completely covered by gloves or gaiters, no exposed jewelry other than plain wedding rings can be worn in the manufacturing area. This includes earrings, necklaces, bracelets, and wristwatches. No artificial nails or nail polish can be worn unless gloves cover hands.
9. Personnel should not take personal possessions or open food containers of any kind into the processing areas.   Chewing gum or eating sweets and other foodstuffs is not allowed in any production areas. It is acceptable to carry food and beverages in the production areas when entering or leaving the facility as long as the food items are sealed or covered (lunch box).
10. Personnel should take all necessary precautions to prevent contamination of food with microorganisms or foreign substances, including but not limited to perspiration, hair, cosmetics, tobacco, and chemicals.
11. This is a non-smoking facility. Smoking and the use of any tobacco products is forbidden in all areas of the Riverwest Processing facility. Smoking in bathrooms is not allowed.
12. Personnel must wash their hands thoroughly (and sanitize when necessary to prevent contamination by micro-organisms) in an adequate hand washing facility, before starting work and at any other time when the hands may have become soiled or contaminated. This requirement also pertains to gloves.
13. Truck drivers are exempt from the head and beard covering requirements as long as they remain in the dock loading area. The dock area is defined as no more than 10 feet beyond the shipping doors. If any individual is located more than 10 feet beyond the shipping doors, they will be required to adhere to all requirements of this procedure, including head coverings.