Although many people outside the food processing industry don’t think much about how bacteria and other pathogens are transferred from one place to another, FSQA managers are constantly figuring out ways to prevent cross-contamination. When personnel or equipment go from one zone to another, they can bring unwanted bacteria with them, unless measures are taken to prevent this. Much of the focus is on handwashing and preventing the transfer of pathogens from hands to equipment, but floors are also a significant consideration. Regularly cleaning and sanitizing floors can help prevent outbreaks caused by cross-contamination in a facility.
How Bacteria Is Transferred via Floors
Even in facilities that follow daily sanitation protocols, it is still possible to transfer pathogens from the floor in one area to another zone. In food processing areas, liquids can drip to the floor, and other food products can be dropped during the course of food preparation. When these materials get on shoes or equipment wheels, they can easily be transferred to other areas, including any pathogens that are on them. When this happens, other areas can potentially be contaminated. Because the pathogens are invisible and many people don’t think about what might be on their shoes, this type of transfer presents a major risk to food processing environments.
How to Sanitize Floors
This type of pathogen transfer can be prevented by training personnel how to clean and sanitize floors and by using footbaths and other products that reduce the presence of bacteria on floors throughout the work day. It’s important to sanitize floors after ceilings and walls have been treated and to cover every square inch of surface area, including difficult-to-reach areas. Leave sanitation products on surfaces for the recommended contact time, and thoroughly rinse, spraying toward drains.
When done on a daily basis, this will help keep unwanted bacteria at bay. Between cleanings, the spread of bacteria can be limited by using footbaths or a timed foamer between zones. For work areas, use a product like Power FT Pelletized Quaternary Floor Treatment to continually combat the growth of bacteria.
What Makes Power FT Pelletized Quaternary Floor Treatment Unique
Power FT Pelletized Quaternary Floor Treatment is an odorless, dustless, dry blend of quaternary ammonium chlorides. It can be sprinkled on any floor surface for easy cleaning and is useful in all areas of food processing, especially for facilities that produce ready-to-eat products.
Power FT is unique compared to other floor treatments because the active ingredient is an actual dry quaternary component. Most other products use a dry inert filler that is coated with liquid quat, which does not allow them to provide the true time-release action that Power FT delivers. Power FT is formulated to clean and protect floors and provide ongoing protection beyond the footbath with time-release action. Available in 100 lbs or 400 lbs, the product can be applied on floors in high-traffic areas. It can also be used to clean floors at the beginning of the sanitation process.
Choose the Right Cleaning Products
In addition to proper training on how to sanitize floors, the products you use will determine how clean your facility stays throughout the work day. The more you can do to prevent the growth and spread of bacteria, the less likely you are to encounter a contamination issue. Incorporating Power FT Pelletized Quaternary Floor Treatment into your sanitation plan will help reduce the risk of cross-contamination from floors and will also help combat bacteria in work areas all day long. The time-release action ensures that the product continues to work as long as your employees do, efficiently cleaning floors and protecting your brand.
To learn more about the products you can use to clean and sanitize your facility, download the D7 Product Guide today.