If you think back to the time you bought a house or moved house,
you probably considered the layout of the property, the design,
the walls, ceilings, lights,
the build quality, the location, your potential neighbours,
nearby amenities before deciding on the place.
Similar to your dream home, the location, layout and construction of your dairy site is important too.
It provides the foundation for controlling external and internal hazards
and allows you to manufacture, store and distribute safe dairy products.
Whether a dairy facility is new or old,
the equipment must be made of a material which is easily cleaned
and does not allow the build up of contaminants.
You must record in your approved arrangement
how you would maintain your site's immediate surrounds.
This includes adequate drainage to prevent flooding and pooling of water,
as this can present a contamination risk and attract pests.
You should also consider your neighbouring properties,
facilities and their regular activities,
as these may inadvertently pose a hazard to your site.
If premises are designed poorly and are difficult to clean,
it's more likely to harbour foodborne pathogens.
Therefore, food contact surfaces, fixtures, fittings and equipment
must be suitable for their use and must not pose a contamination risk to the food being prepared.
They must be made from smooth and impervious materials free from pits,
cracks and crevices to prevent unnecessary buildup.
All external doors leading into manufacturing areas
are to be kept closed and when opened, they should not be left open for extended periods.
The use of rapid, fast roller doors
to prevent doors from being left open for extended periods should be considered.
They help minimise external contaminants from entering the building through an open door.
Similar considerations should be given to any windows and open air vents in your site.
By considering such factors for your site,
you can control and eliminate known hazards
by use of proper design and sound construction
whilst avoiding costly ongoing maintenance activities
and or product contamination issues.