A food processing plant is a place where food is commercially processed for human consumption. Food production includes baking, freezing, boiling, packaging, and more. A large food processing plant can produce millions of products each year, which requires a lot of machines and a lot of human resources. There are several aspects of processing plants that require safety design and materials to keep the food and the people safe. Food barriers for safety are used to keep employees safe, comply with regulations, maintain proper food hygiene, and ensure safe food products for consumption.
Food Industry Risks
Safety products such as food barriers are used throughout the food industry to limit various risks to employees and products. Exposure to harmful substances, extreme temperatures, trips, falls, and contact with heavy machines all pose personal safety risks in food manufacturing.
The food industry limits risks by enforcing strict personal hygiene standards, including proper handwashing, use of hairnets, and restrictions on jewelry and nail polish. Comprehensive training on hygiene practices and the importance of hygiene barriers also plays an essential role in food safety.
Contamination is a critical concern in the food manufacturing industry. There is potential microbial contamination leading to bacterial, viral, or fungal food borne illnesses. There is also possible contamination from pesticides, harmful chemicals, or foreign objects such as glass or plastic entering the food supply.
The proper use of safety barriers for food manufacturing works to limit the risks to food supply and employees. Barriers help create a safer work environment and lead to a safer product for the consumer.
Food Industry Regulations
The food industry is highly regulated. Agriculture, food manufacturing, distribution, storage, and food handling all face specific regulations by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These agencies and departments within, such as the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), part of the USDA, and the Centre for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), part of the FDA, work together to create and enforce food safety guidelines and regulations. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) does not necessarily regulate the food but does provide guidelines and regulations for food industry workplace safety.
Personal and environmental hygiene is a vital aspect of these regulations in food manufacturing and food service. At a basic level, this involves hand washing and sanitizing equipment. However, food hygiene can also involve product safety barriers to prevent contamination.
Other industry regulations involve temperature control, allergen control, product labeling, and tracing and recall procedures. Food barriers are used in manufacturing and food industry environments for hygiene, temperature control, and contamination control. Barriers for food manufacturing also improve the work environment by providing sound absorption.
Industrial Curtains as Barriers for Food Manufacturing
Barriers for the food industry are used for hygiene control, temperature control, dust and debris control, and noise reduction. One type of product safety barrier is food processing industrial curtain walls. Curtain walls are often used in the food industry to create separation between different areas within a food manufacturing facility.
Hygiene and Contamination Control
Industrial curtains can be used as a food barrier, creating partitions between different stages of food processing. This creates hygienic zones and prevents potential cross-contamination between raw and processed food areas.
Temperature Control
Industrial curtains can be used as barriers for food manufacturing to create and insulate cold storage areas and maintain temperature zones in food preparation areas. In an industry where temperature is closely monitored and regulated, these food barriers work to ensure product safety.
Dust and Debris Control
Part of the food industry is packaging and processing. Product safety barriers such as curtains can designate package areas, preventing dust and debris from entering the final packaged product. Barriers are also used to protect food products from dust and other particles in storage.
Noise Reduction
Food manufacturing facilities can be loud. Strategically installed soundproof industrial curtains work to ensure the job site meets OSHA standards for noise levels.
Food Industry Products with Singer Safety
When selecting curtains for food manufacturing, it’s important to consider factors such as the specific needs of the facility, compliance with food safety regulations, ease of cleaning, and the type of processes being conducted. Regular maintenance and cleaning of curtains are essential to ensure they remain effective in maintaining hygiene and environmental control.
Singer Safety Company offers a variety of products for use in the food industry. Singer Safety’s environmental barriers and partitions provide effective control and confinement of warm or cool air within the partitioned area and serve as a barrier for dust and airborne contaminants. These food barriers are constructed with translucent off-white vinyl-coated fabric that allows light through. Our GlideWall track systems allow flexible, easy-to-change configurations for optimal workspace utilization. Our expert team can help you determine which noise control products will work best for your business.