Be Ready for Health Inspection All Year Round The middle of winter might not be when you think about flies and insects. After all, they don’t tend to be swarming about when the weather is colder. This doesn’t mean, however, that you can afford to be lax on your anti-insect activity. Many types of businesses have a legal requirement to be clean, and many specifically need to take steps to keep insects out. Health inspections can happen at any time of the year. You could find yourself needing to focus on keeping insects out, no matter whether it is the appropriate time of the year or not. To avoid getting in trouble, needing to pay a fine, or even having to close your business, it is best to be ready for inspection all year round. What is a Health Inspection? A health inspection is a twice annual check up by the government that you are sticking to the rules around hygiene in your industry. The inspector will check that you are working in a clean and safe environment. According to the government, they may check: • your premises • how you work • your food safety management system • the types of food you make and prepare Who has Inspections? Generally, anyone involved in the production of food is subject to a potential health inspection. This is not just restaurants and cafes, but factories and other businesses that are involved in the production of food. You usually have inspections twice a year. You will not know when you are going to be inspected in advance. According to the government, ‘How often you’re inspected depends on the risk your business poses to public health. You might not be inspected as often if you’re a member of a recognised assurance scheme.’ What are the Regulations? There are a number of pieces of regulation that cover food safety and hygiene in the UK. The main piece of regulation is the Food Safety Act 1990. There have been several subsequent additions to the legislation, including: • The General Food Regulations 2004 • The Food Safety and Hygiene (England) Regulations 2013 • Food Information Regulations 2014 • Regulation (EC) No 178/2002 • Regulation (EC) No 852/2004 Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 Types of Screens The most effective way to be safe and hygienic around flies and insects is to keep them out of your premises. Fly Screen Windows A fly screen window fits over any type of window space, to provide a barrier to insects entering. These are particularly relevant to restaurants or anywhere that specialises in food preparation, as regulations often require them. Fly Screen Doors Fly Screen Doors help to prevent insects from entering your premises. They can fit any kind of door area, so can fit regardless of the shape or size of your existing door. A protective mesh and bristle strip help to keep your business insect free. Sneezeguards Sneezeguards protect people and food stuffs from other people. Whether you work in an area with busy tills, or need to protect standing food stuffs from potential spoiling. At Safety Screens, we are experts in helping you keep your customers’ business safe. We organise supply and fitting of many kinds of safety screenage. Whether you need to help a customer keep out insects, or you are trying to plan a Covid safe workplace, get in touch today, and see how we can help you.
