A Comprehensive Guide to Establishing and Managing an Effective Food Safety Training Program

Feb 5, 2024 | Food Safety

  • Nexus Consultancy
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  • A Comprehensive Guide to Establishing and Managing an Effective Food Safety Training Program
Nexus TAC - Danielle Tan - Box (2023)

Danielle Tan

Chief Operating Officer
The ISO 14064-1 standard provides guidelines for organizations to quantify, monitor, and report greenhouse gas emissions and removals. This aims to explain the purpose and scope of ISO 14064-1, helping readers understand its importance in greenhouse gas reporting and environmental management.

a comprehensive guide to establishing and managing an effective food safety training program introduction

Making sure food is safe in a business is a big job that relies on good training. This guide explores the details of food safety training, covering things like basic hygiene, learning based on your role, making sure people understand their jobs, and keeping careful records. By having a well-organized training plan, businesses can follow the rules and create a safe and compliant environment in their food safety management system.

a comprehensive guide to establishing and managing an effective food safety training program body

FSSC 22000 version 6

2.5.6 Management of Allergens (All Food Chain Categories)

f) All personnel shall receive training in allergen awareness and specific training on allergen control measures associated with there are of work.

 

Guidance Document: Food Defense

5. Food Defense Team and Training

 

Guidance Document: Food Fraud Mitigation

5. Food Fraud Prevention Team and Training

 

ISO 22000:2018

7.2 Competence

7.3 Awareness

 

BRCGS Food Safety Issue 9

7.1.1 Initial Training and Supervision

7.1.3 Documented Training Programme

7.1.4 Allergen Training

7.1.5 Packing and Labeling Training

7.1.6 Training Records

7.1.7 Competency Review

 

MS 1480:2019 

 

4.1.3 Competence, Training and Food Safety Awareness

MS 1514:2022 

8.1 Awareness and Responsibilities

8.2 Management and Supervisor

8.3 Training Programs

 

a comprehensive guide to establishing and managing an effective food safety training program body 1
  1. Training Procedure

A robust training program begins with a meticulously designed procedure. This foundational document delineates the blueprint for various training modules, including:

  • Initial (induction) training tailored to individual roles, incorporating basic food safety and good manufacturing practices where applicable.
  • Awareness training for visitors, contractors, and suppliers.
  • Subject matter training, classified by levels corresponding to distinct roles within the organization, for example training on allergen, food defense, food fraud.
  • Job-based learning coveringprocedural training and understanding of Critical Control Points (CCPs) and OPRPs.
  • Refresher trainings on food safety and good manufacturing practices.
Basic Training Before embarking on their roles, new employees, temporary staff, and contractors undergo foundational training in basic food hygiene. This training is tailored to their roles and the level of responsibility associated with their positions.
Role-based Training

A key aspect of effective training is its alignment with specific roles. Role-based training involves:

 

  • Task-based (procedural) training tailored to each role.
  • Subject matter training at appropriate levels.
  • Provision of specific procedural training for tasks integral to each role.
Subject Matter Training

Different roles within an organization require varying levels of subject matter training. Taking allergen handling as an example:

 

  • Those not directly working with allergens may require allergen awareness training.
  • Individuals responsible for critical allergen control tasks necessitate in-depth allergen training.
  • Managers overseeing the allergen management system require a comprehensive understanding of allergen-related protocols.
Refresher Training To ensure the sustained competence of staff, refresher training is conducted at least annually or more frequently if required. This addresses changes in procedures, regulations, or industry best practices, keeping the workforce attuned to evolving standards.

 

 

  1. Management of Training

Efficient management of training involves addressing key elements, namely:

  • Set and communicate expectations to trainees before training is conducted.
  • Monitoring of training activities to ensure effectiveness.
  • Assessment of competency to gauge the understanding of trainees.
  • Language considerations, with provisions for translators where necessary.
  • Systematic recording of training activities.
  • Clear protocols for updates or changes to training materials, including communication requirements.
  1. Updates and Changes

In an ever-evolving business landscape, it is essential to define rules governing when training must occur after updates to documentation. This includes articulating:

  • Instances where a change in documentation doesn’t necessitate retraining.
  • Methodologies for implementing changes and a maximum timeframe for completion.
  • Communication strategies for disseminating document changes to training providers.
  1. Trigger Events for Training Updates

Critical events triggering updates to training materials include:

  • Findings from external or internal audits.
  • Competency checks highlighting areas requiring improvement.
  • Resolution of complaints and addressing non-conformances.
  • Changes to the business structure, products, or processes.
  1. Training Matrix

A training matrix serves as an invaluable tool for ensuring the completion and currency of required training. This matrix provides a systematic overview, aiding in the organization and management of diverse training modules.

  1. Training Delivery

The delivery of training, whether internal or external, must be carefully considered. Key considerations include:

  • Ensuring the competency of internal trainers.
  • Selection of reputable external training providers specializing in the relevant subject matter.
  • Adoption of delivery methods that cater to diverse learning requirements, including language considerations and the incorporation of visuals.
  1. Competency Verification

The verification of competency is a pivotal aspect of any training program and involves two components:

  • Initial competency checks immediately following training.
  • Ongoing competency checks, which may encompass coaching assessments, observational evaluations, tests, exams, and one-to-one appraisals.
  1. Training Records

The meticulous documentation of training sessions is imperative for accountability and regulatory compliance. Detailed records should include:

  • Names of trainees to confirm attendance.
  • Dates and duration of training sessions.
  • Course titles or procedure names, complete with reference and version numbers.
  • Identification of external training providers.
  • Summaries of internal training presentations or copies of presentation materials.
  • Records of verbal translations, signed by translators and specifying the language used.
a comprehensive guide to establishing and managing an effective food safety training program conclusion

Conclusion

To sum up, setting up and running a good food safety training plan needs careful and detailed steps. With organized training, checking if people understand their jobs well, and keeping good records, companies can not only meet the rules but also make sure everyone cares about food safety in their work.

Reference:

    1. https://techni-k.co.uk/training-competency/management-of-training/

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