18. Intake, storage and distribution
How to load materials
Loading checks, conditions and security
This article is written to meet the following sections of the Standards:
| BRCGS Food Safety Issue 8 | 4.16.1, 4.16.2 Loading |
| BRCGS Packaging Issue 6 | 5.10.5 Loading |
| BRCGS Agents & Brokers Issue 3 | Not applicable. |
| BRCGS Storage & Distribution Issue 4 | 4.3.8 Loading conditions 5.1.1, 5.1.4 Load carrying area 5.2.5, 5.2.6 XS Load security 5.4.4 X Loading/unloading temperature control 7.2.2, 7.2.4 XD Loading conditions |
| FSSC22000 Version 5.1 | No specific clauses. |
| IFS Food Version 7 | 4.15.1 Loading |
| SQF Edition 9 | 11.6.5 Loading |
Loading checks
Before the vehicle is loaded, checks must be carried out to make sure that the holding area is fit for loading. This means you need a procedure which ensures that:
- The holding area is free from contamination and odour.
- The fabrication of the holding area is in a good state of repair.
- The holding area is the required temperature.
- That the vehicle meets any legal requirements.
The checks must be recorded and where the vehicle doesn’t comply, it must be rejected.
Loading conditions
Once the vehicle has been checked, you then need to make sure that it’s loaded in a controlled manner.
Where the product is susceptible to weather damage, vehicles must be loaded under covered bays.
If you want to be able to load vehicles outside, you need to carry out a risk assessment which defines what controls are needed to make it possible. The controls may be things like protecting the pallets with additional outer packaging.
Loading
Then when you’re loading the materials, make sure that they don’t directly touch the holding area floor.
And when loading temperature-controlled product, it must be completed so that the temperature of the material isn’t affected. This may mean you need to specify the maximum timescale for loading.
Securing the load
Once the vehicle is loaded, the load needs to be secured to prevent movement during transit – as this may result in damage.
Load security
The vehicle must be made secure once it’s ready to depart. Where locks or seals are not fitted to vehicles, alternative security measures must be put in place.
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3 thoughts on “How to load materials”
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We've tagged this article as: Loading
Would be nice if some references to bulk shipments were included.
Agreed Melinda, we’ll ensure to do that. 🙂
a good idea into the system of bulk loading is given at: https://www.eftco.org/downloads. Please think of food fraud / food defense issues with regards to seals
have a good 2022