Training Employees on the Importance of Tool Accountability

How do I go about training the employees about the importance of tool accountability and that they are not to just leave them laying around??

Tool accountability plays a big part in most of the GFSI audits now days. I would add this to your GMP/ Food Safety policy and really emphasize it in your trainings, perhaps find some real life examples to show your employees of things that could or may have happened due to someone leaving there tools just laying about(complaints, audit NC's) then follow through with it by holding the employees accountable for there tools being left around when found during any audits or inspections.

Adding it to the GMP's works. You can also create a policy that no tools are to be on the floor without being checked out, and then write a procedure detailing how they check out the tools and check them back in. Our tool checkout lists the area the tool is to be used, asks if the tool has been cleaned prior to return and if the tool was damaged. Ties in nicely with the foreign material control program.

I would add this to your GMP/ Food Safety policy ....

Thank you for this thought. We already have this as a written procedure but inclusion into our GMP would ensure every employee on an annual basis would have retraining in this requirement.


Thanks,

MaryK

Thanks for the information

Hi
Along with a policy you can introduce a checklist, for before and after work. Also an authorized personnel to verify the completed check list on-site.

pls see attached - would give some idea

How do I go about training the employees about the importance of tool accountability and that they are not to just leave them laying around??

Have your foreman/supervisor involved. I made a log inout sheet for the accountability. The sheet stays with the foreman/supervisor.

The log in sheet consist of 4 columns. The first column, the ID# of the tool, second column name of person using this numbered tool, third column time it got checked out and initialed, fourth column a section for the foreman/supervisor confirming the tool was returned.

Above the log in sheet is a simple statement (don't know if off the top of my head) about how all tools are identified by a number, how the foreman/supervisor distributes them and it's the employees responsibility to return at the end of the shift. If they don't abide by the rules there are consequences.


Then there is an SOP that refers to this form for tools.

This is very much a part of the 5S induction training for workers to start with. As a follow up, we conduct regular 5S audits and also a Tools Inventory. Those who were issued the tools know that they are accountable for them and are bound to replace the lost tools out of their own pockets that's why they are careful not to leave their tools lying anywhere after every use.

Regards.