Physical hazards are a common source of injuries in many industries. Due to a variety of factors, however, the food and drinks manufacturing industry poses particularly high risks. Each year in the UK, more than 5000 injuries in food and drink manufacturing industries are reported to the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), which represents about a quarter of all manufacturing injury reports. According to the HSE about 90% of these injuries occur in food manufacture, the remainder in the drinks sector. About 16% of the injuries are ‘major injuries’.

The European Standardisation Committee (CEN) has produced a number of European CEN ‘C’ standards which set out safety requirements for certain types of food machine. These are a leading cause of workplace injuries as many have moving parts, sharp edges, hot surfaces and other hazards with the potential to crush, burn, cut, stab or otherwise strike or wound workers if used unsafely or, for instance, if views are obstructed. To minimise the electrical and mechanical hazards faced by workers operating such machinery, security procedures such as Lockout-Tagout are enforced. This involves shutting off the power to machines or equipment during maintenance or repair, which helps prevent accidental activation of equipment.

Clear vision

Where space is limited and visibility is key, many suppliers of safety and security products offer an effective solution in the form of mirrors which comply with UK food standard regulations. British and European legislation demands that all equipment used in the manufacture of food and drinks be easy to clean, corrosion-resistant and have imperceptible seams to avoid the risk of trapped organic substances becoming a breeding ground for bacteria. Stainless steel meets all these requirements.

Stainless steel safety mirrors, such as the Securikey Hygiene F Series, are available in various sizes to meet different needs and have a number of uses in food processing factories. Apart from the obvious uses of allowing a clear view around blind spots and in tight corridors and areas, mirrors are also used for viewing vats, hoppers and mixers to prevent backlogs or jams on production lines.

Access control

An important security factor in a food processing factory is ensuring that only authorised personnel have access to all areas through appropriate access control. 

Mechanical digital door locks, such as the Keylex range from Securikey, offer a solution for a wide range of applications, eradicating the need for keys, cards or tokens that could be lost, stolen or damaged. This range comes in four different variations, from mini to heavy duty, depending on the security level needed, and allows for up to 16,000 different password variations to ensure security is never compromised. If there is a need for physical keys there are a number of sophisticated key safes and vaults that meet British safety standards, proven by recognised product testing houses, to offer advanced key monitoring, management and security.

Keeping safe

Another important factor to consider is safes for securing valuables within a busy factory environment. In food processing factories there might be a need to keep numerous items secure from prying hands, from personal belongings and sensitive documents to potentially harmful chemicals. No matter what the security level need, there are safes on the market that offer different levels of security. Those responsible for the security within a food processing factory are advised to source safes from a reputable supplier, that are certified with EN 1143-1 security standards and are Association of Insurance Surveyors (AIS) approved. In addition to preventing theft, fireproof safes will keep sensitive materials unharmed in the event of fire and prevent the loss of important documents and items.

Taking the necessary measures to ensure the safety of employees and the security of the workplace in such a tightly regulated industry is the number one priority for those responsible for health and safety. Fortunately, there have been many advances towards improving workplace security in food processing and manufacturing factories. With a wide range of products like safety mirrors designed specifically for the food industry and a wealth of expertise available from leading suppliers, end users can ensure regulations and risk assessment requirements are all met successfully and without complication.