Are black safety shoes acceptable in a food plant?
Hi,
Currently we use white safety shoes and we are looking at trying a new company due to comfort (they provide a better shoe). The new proposed shoe has a steel cap so it is a good safety shoe - however the shoe itself is black which I can't recall ever seeing in a food plant. We would like to know if we will recieve any pushback from auditors etc.
Cons/pros... we are BRC certified but I can't find anywhere where it states shoes must be white.
Help?
Hi,
Currently we use white safety shoes and we are looking at trying a new company due to comfort (they provide a better shoe). The new proposed shoe has a steel cap so it is a good safety shoe - however the shoe itself is black which I can't recall ever seeing in a food plant. We would like to know if we will recieve any pushback from auditors etc.
Cons/pros... we are BRC certified but I can't find anywhere where it states shoes must be white.
Help?
The plant I work in has multiple different boot colors. As long as they follow your specifications - you are fine.
Hi,
Currently we use white safety shoes and we are looking at trying a new company due to comfort (they provide a better shoe). The new proposed shoe has a steel cap so it is a good safety shoe - however the shoe itself is black which I can't recall ever seeing in a food plant. We would like to know if we will recieve any pushback from auditors etc.
Cons/pros... we are BRC certified but I can't find anywhere where it states shoes must be white.
Help?
I've been in a couple really organized facilities that color code both their shoes and/or their safety helmets. In pharma, we distinguished between steel toes based on show lace color (they'd give you a specific color for shoes that shouldn't be leaving the floor (we also had a locker room here)). Outside of that, if it protects your feet and meets standards, It shouldn't matter :)
We use black and see white and black all the time in various types of operations.
Black shoes are fine.
people like using white because it's easier to see that they are clean (but not practice in say a slaughterhouse)
no code or regulation states a colour
I have personally seen all sorts of colors of boots in food plants, black shoes should be fine. If you're concerned about boot sanitation it's better to invest in boot foaming stations and a boot sanitation program. That will go much further to prove your boots are clean than simply relying on visible cleanliness.
Hi AJL,
Suitable black shoes are fine for standard operations but be aware that high risk areas should have specific dedicated protective clothing which is visually distinct from other areas.
If you look at BRCGS Global Standard Food Safety Issue 9 Section 8.4 Staff facilities for high-risk and high-care zones, clause 8.4.1:
Where an operation includes a high-risk or high-care area, personnel shall enter via a specially designated changing facility at the entrance to the area. The changing facilities shall incorporate the following:
…….
• protective clothing that is visually distinct from that worn in other areas and which shall not be worn outside the area
BRCGS Guidance: High-risk and high-care area changing facilities
The objective of this clause is to ensure that protective clothing, once applied, is not contaminated before entry into the high-risk or high-care area.
In facilities with high-risk or high-care areas, personnel must enter these areas via a specific, designated changing facility (i.e. separate from other, lower-risk changing areas) and must follow documented instructions to:
• apply specific dedicated protective clothing which is visually distinct (e.g. a different colour or style), including clean overalls, headwear and footwear
Kind regards,
Tony