ASTC211 Clean food areas

Overview           

This unit is about conducting routine cleaning in food including kitchens, food service areas, food manufacturing premises, food production and food retailing.

Food preparation, service and retail areas pose a high risk to public health if not cleaned properly. High standards of personal, including hand, hygiene should be observed and maintained throughout the cleaning process. It is important to follow the cleaning specification in the business’ food safety management procedures.

This unit also covers the cleaning of in-place equipment and it is therefore important that correct precautions are taken with regard to Personal Protective Equipment and the handling and safe isolation of food production equipment.

This unit consists of two elements:

1.            Clean food areas according to business food safety management procedures

2.            Complete cleaning of food areas

 

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

 

Clean food areas according to business’ food safety management procedures

P1           obtain the cleaning specification in the business’ food safety management procedures at the right time

P2           remove all your personal items and store in an approved place and put on personal protective equipment

P3           ensure your level of personal hygiene meets the standard required by the business’ food safety management procedures and report health conditions such as skin disorders, open sores, diarrhoea etc. to the relevant person

P4           move and protect items, including food, in the cleaning area in accordance with the cleaning specification

P5           use the cleaning equipment that is suitable for the specific cleaning operation and check that it is safe before you use it

P6           separate and clearly label faulty or damaged cleaning equipment and make the food business operator aware of this

P7           prepare food production plant, equipment and materials for cleaning in- place in accordance with the cleaning specification

P8           isolate food equipment power supplies whenever necessary

P9           carry out the cleaning without damaging in-place plant and equipment

P10        follow the manufacturer’s instructions and safe working practices when

taking apart, handling and re-assembling food production equipment

P11         check that you put all parts in the right holding area when taking food production equipment apart and identify equipment parts for reassembly

P12         after reassembling equipment, check it is in correct working order

P13         record and report to the relevant person faults e.g. where the cleaning specification cannot be met, missing or damaged food equipment parts and pest infestation

P14        make sure that there is enough ventilation and that there are no other chemicals on the surfaces before starting to de-scale food production equipment

P15        in line with manufacturer’s instructions de-scale and clean equipment parts methodically using methods that are in line with business and equipment manufacturer’s instruction and are least likely to cause contamination

 

Complete cleaning of food areas

P16        as you carry out your work, assess your cleaning according to the business food safety management procedures

P17         identify instances of pest infestation, report to the relevant person and remove the evidence following proper and safe procedures

P18         take action to ensure the area is cleaned thoroughly and as frequently as necessary until the pest infestation has been eradicated

P19         check that individual parts of food production equipment are clean before re-assembly

P20         leave food production equipment in safe working order when you have finished, reporting any equipment problems noted during cleaning or reassembly

P21         leave equipment and the working area free of deposits, cleaning residue and foreign objects

P22         check that ventilation systems and surfaces are clean and dry when you have finished

P23         dispose of waste and slurry according to the food business food safety management procedures

P24        when you have finished cleaning ensure that the cleaning equipment, machinery and personal protective equipment are cleaned and securely stored according to the cleaning specification

 

Knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand:

 

Clean food areas according to business’ food safety management procedures

K1           why it is important to have the business’ up-to-date cleaning specification and from whom it can be obtained

K2           the level of personal hygiene required for the food area in which you are working, how to maintain that level and why it is important

K3           why health conditions such as skin disorders, open sores, diarrhoea etc. must be reported to the relevant person

K4           why food items must either be moved or protected during cleaning operations, the correct methods of doing so and the consequences of not doing this correctly

K5           the range of cleaning equipment specified and how to check that it is safe to use

K6           which cleaning agents are suitable or the surfaces you are cleaning and the damage that can be caused by using the wrong ones

K7           how to recognise and label faulty or damaged food production equipment and why this should be reported

K8           how safely to isolate powered food production equipment and why you must do this before cleaning

K9           why it is important to refer to manufacturer’s instructions for disassembling, re-assembling and cleaning food production equipment and where this information can be obtained

K10        workplace procedures for dismantling and re-assembling food production equipment including the correct holding area for parts

K11        how to ventilate the food production area and why this is important

K12        how to check for chemical residues where this has been used

K13        the correct methods for de-scaling and cleaning food production equipment and how to apply them safely

 

Complete cleaning of food areas

K14        how to monitor the cleaning you are undertaking and why it is important to maintain standards according to the business food safety management procedures

K15        the main types of pest infestations common to food production areas, how to identify them and the action to take to deal with them

K16        why it is important to report pest infestations and the correct procedures you must take to deal with any incidence of infestation

K17        the correct procedures for dis-assembly and re-assembly of food production equipment and why it is important to check that all parts are clean before reassembly

K18        how to identify problems with food production equipment and the correct procedures for reporting them

K19        why it is important to leave the food area free of deposits, residue and foreign objects and the consequences of not doing so

K20        the correct place for all food or equipment moved during the cleaning activity and why it is important to put items back where they came from

K21        why surfaces and vents should be left dry on completion of cleaning

K22        the correct procedures for disposing of waste and slurry

K23        how to clean the cleaning equipment used, why you should do this and where and how it should be stored

Key words           conducting, routine cleaning, food areas, risk, hygiene, process, procedures