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Fundamentals of General Hygiene Management

Food and Beverage Manufacturing · 飲食料品製造業 · Written by Tokutei Pass based on the official study texts; not copied verbatim.

5S Activities and the Dry System

The foundation of hygiene management in a food factory is the 5S activity. Seiri (Sort) means separating necessary items from unnecessary ones and discarding what is not needed; Seiton (Set in Order) means placing necessary items in designated locations so anyone can retrieve them immediately.

Seiso (Shine) means removing trash and dirt while inspecting machinery for abnormalities; Seiketsu (Standardize) means maintaining the 3S state (Sort, Set in Order, Shine); and Shitsuke (Sustain) means building the habit of always following established rules.

Many factories also adopt a Dry System that keeps production floors dry. Eliminating standing water on the floor suppresses bacterial and mold growth and prevents secondary contamination from water splashes as well as worker slip-and-fall accidents.

Key points


  • The 5S principles are Sort (Seiri), Set in Order (Seiton), Shine (Seiso), Standardize (Seiketsu), and Sustain (Shitsuke).

  • Sort means discarding unneeded items, while Set in Order means arranging needed items neatly for easy retrieval.

  • The Dry System keeps floors dry to prevent bacterial growth, splash contamination, and slip accidents.
WordMeaning
general hygiene management
Sort and Set in Order (Seiri & Seiton)
Shine and Standardize (Seiso & Seiketsu)
Sustain / discipline (Shitsuke)
Dry System

Facility Hygiene Management and Zoning

Factories use zoning to divide areas into contaminated zones, semi-clean zones, and clean zones according to hygiene levels. Workers must never move from a contaminated zone into a clean zone wearing the same footwear or work uniform.

Clean zones use positive air pressure control so that outside air and insects do not enter when doors open. Ventilation and air conditioning prevent ceiling condensation and mold growth, while adequate lighting ensures foreign matter and dirt are never overlooked.

Clean and sanitize drains after production ends; never wash floors or drains with high-pressure water during production because water splashes can contaminate food. Remove weeds and puddles around the building, and monitor and control insects and rodents using light traps and sticky traps.

Because cardboard boxes used for raw materials carry insects, soil, and bacteria, never bring them into clean zones; unpack them in an unpacking room and transfer contents into clean dedicated containers.

Key points


  • Never move from a contaminated zone to a clean zone wearing the same shoes or work clothes.

  • Maintain positive air pressure in clean zones to keep out dirty air and insects, and prohibit bringing cardboard boxes inside.

  • Washing floors or drains with high-pressure water during production is strictly prohibited because splashes cause secondary contamination.
WordMeaning
zoning
contaminated zone
clean zone
positive air pressure control
condensation
unpacking room

Worker Health, Grooming, and Entry Procedures

Check your health before work; if you have diarrhea, vomiting, fever, or cuts/sores on your hands or fingers (which may harbor Staphylococcus aureus), report to your supervisor and step away from direct food handling. Regular stool tests are also essential to detect asymptomatic carriers.

Keep fingernails trimmed short, and never wear nail polish, wristwatches, rings, or perfume. Wear a clean uniform without buttons or outside pockets, bring no personal items into the plant, and use only one-piece metal-detectable pens.

Brush your hair, cover it completely down to the ears with a hairnet, put on your work cap, and check in a mirror (hairpins are prohibited). Cover from nose to chin with a mask, and remove loose hair and dust using a sticky roller and air shower before washing your hands and entering.

Before using the toilet, remove your work jacket, apron, and gloves, and change into dedicated toilet footwear. Never wipe your hands on a waist towel or uniform. Wash, sanitize, and dry work boots daily and inspect them for cracks.

Worker Health, Grooming, and Entry Procedures

Key points


  • Report diarrhea, fever, or hand wounds to a supervisor before work, and undergo periodic stool examinations.

  • Wear a buttonless, pocketless uniform, cover all hair with a hairnet and work cap, and apply a sticky roller before entry.

  • Remove your work uniform, apron, and gloves and change into dedicated toilet shoes before entering the restroom.
WordMeaning
asymptomatic carrier (healthy carrier)
stool examination
hairnet
sticky roller (lint roller)
air shower

Hygienic Handwashing and Handling Disposable Gloves

Always wash your hands before entering the work area, after using the toilet, after touching raw meat, trash, or dirty surfaces, and whenever switching tasks. Because water alone cannot remove bacteria and viruses, always use hand soap.

Dirt easily remains on fingertips, under nails, around thumbs, between fingers, and on wrists. The two-step handwash (lathering thoroughly with soap, scrubbing, and rinsing under running water twice in a row) is highly effective.

To prevent recontamination of clean hands, use sensor, elbow, or foot-operated faucets and dry hands completely with disposable paper towels rather than shared cloth towels. Then spray alcohol sanitizer onto dry hands and rub until completely dry.

Always wash and sanitize your hands before putting on disposable gloves. If gloves tear or get dirty during work, or when you switch to a different task, replace them with a fresh pair immediately.

Key points


  • Two-step handwashing (repeating soap scrubbing and running-water rinsing twice) effectively reduces bacteria and viruses.

  • Dry hands completely with disposable paper towels before applying alcohol sanitizer.

  • Wash hands before putting on gloves, and replace gloves immediately if torn, soiled, or when changing tasks.
WordMeaning
hygienic handwashing
two-step handwashing
recontamination
paper towel
disposable gloves

Equipment Cleaning & Sanitization and Material/Product Control

Clean equipment in the order: Wash with detergent (using 40–60°C warm water to remove grease) -> Rinse with running water -> Sanitize -> Dry and store cleanly. Disassemble slicers and fillers for cleaning, and inspect rubber gaskets for wear or mold.

Dilute sodium hypochlorite to the specified concentration and rinse it off with potable water after sanitizing (never dilute with boiling water or soak metal for long periods). Color-code cutting boards, knives, cleaning tools, and wiping cloths by use to prevent cross-contamination.

Use potable water throughout the plant and check and record residual chlorine levels daily. Upon receiving raw materials, verify temperature, package integrity, and odor against raw material specifications; hold and report any abnormalities.

Store refrigerated items at 10°C or below and frozen items at −15°C or below, filling storage spaces to 70% or less and following First-In, First-Out (FIFO). Place dropped food into a dedicated disposal container and wash your hands; if you spot misprinted dates or abnormal temperatures, stop the machine and report immediately.

Key points


  • Process utensils in the order: detergent wash -> rinse -> sanitize -> dry, and color-code tools by intended use.

  • Keep refrigerators at 10°C or below and freezers at −15°C or below, enforcing First-In, First-Out and temperature logs.

  • Never reuse food dropped on the floor; place it in a dedicated waste bin, and immediately report date-print errors or temperature abnormalities.
WordMeaning
disassembly cleaning
color-coding
residual chlorine concentration
raw material specification sheet
First-In, First-Out (FIFO)

General Hygiene Management

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