When building an agri-food plant, it is essential, both for general contractors and employees, to prioritize infrastructure that ensures everyone’s safety. The general contractor will have to ensure the safety of the plant personnel when production is maintained during the renovation work. It will also be necessary to ensure good food hygiene. To do this, four main points are to be considered:
Have HACCP, ISO and SQFI certifications
First, the general contractor must obtain the necessary certifications. HACCP accreditation guarantees compliance with the agri-food plant’s standards in terms of risk analysis, food safety and control of critical points. The SQFI institute regulates the systems put in place by the plant and its general contractor to enforce these standards. Its quality caliber is also very strict. SQFI also assesses the safety of the production chain, not just food safety.
Finally, ISO certification is based on the company’s overall hygiene, with a focus on efficiency and harmony, for maximum quality management.
Construction and location of agri-food plant premises
When building any agri-food plant, the materials used and the location of the premises must be considered according to a maximum safety search. The size and structure of the production sites must also be designed to avoid contamination. The materials used must be robust and prevent dust accumulation. As a safety measure, the floors must be non-slip, but easily cleanable and have rounded corners. The location of the premises must also be designed to avoid any organic and chemical contamination and to reduce the dangers in case of explosion. Sanitary facilities must be built in the building to quickly clean food and any agri-food handling equipment.
Consider adequate and safe waste management during the construction of the agri-food plant
Agri-food plant means agri-food waste management. The general contractor must manage waste treatment in a way that prevents accumulation, the risk of contamination and the occurrence of pests (insects attracted by food and/or warm, humid shelters, for example). The latter may contaminate food during production, storage or transport, but can also interfere with the machines and hinder their proper functioning. Thus, a good agri-food waste treatment system allows to get rid of them quickly and avoid such problems.
The importance of cleaning and maintaining the agri-food building
Interior maintenance is obviously important in agri-food production, allowing for efficient production of healthy food. Many food epidemics can be avoided by proper maintenance of machines and premises, which keep pests such as insects and rats away. Rats not only contaminate food, they can also gnaw on cables and break machines. It is also important to create spaces for employees of the agri-food production building. They too can contaminate food – so it is essential to build them an area where they can meet their hygiene needs. It is also useful to keep the exterior of the building clean, for sanitary storage and transport. Not to mention adequate ventilation and the exclusive use of drinking water to prevent fires.
For any construction project, and to ensure that your agri-food building meets the safety basics of this field, contact a general contractor such as Frare & Gallant, a specialist in agri-food and industrial construction for over 40 years. Frare & Gallant offers all the services to satisfy its clients in addition to guaranteeing the safety of its facilities in the construction of agri-food plants.