Measuring and Improving Food Safety Culture

By Michael Ciepiela
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August 5, 2024


• Categories: Food Manufacturing

Regardless of whether your facility is GFSI (Global Food Safety Initiative) certified, working towards certification, or newly established, it is essential to maintain a strong food safety culture. So how exactly is food safety culture defined? This seems to be an ongoing topic or even debate on how a facility can meet compliance for this requirement. Although there is no definitive method to certify compliance with food safety culture, numerous approaches exist to demonstrate that a facility and its employees are thoroughly engaged in proper food safety practices. This is achieved not only by adhering to these practices but also by actively contributing to their improvement. A key principle consistently emphasized from the leadership is that food safety culture is not the responsibility of a single individual or department. While the quality assurance department typically leads these efforts, ensuring the safety of the food produced is a collective responsibility shared by all employees.

Employee Engagement

When launching any initiative or project related to food safety culture, the first challenge is often gaining employee buy-in. As a leader, it is crucial to communicate the importance of food safety culture to your staff. Why is it important? How does it affect each individual? Why should an employee care if they perceive their role as simple?

In reality, no job is ever just ‘simple.’ This is where education and training become essential for both the individual and the entire team. Complacency can lead to a diminished sense of importance in one’s work, making it vital to emphasize the significance of each role in maintaining a robust food safety culture.

Allocating proper resources to employee training as part of continuous improvement initiatives boosts individual morale and benefits the company’s overall outlook. Investing in training demonstrates a commitment to employee development, fostering a culture of growth and engagement. Well-trained employees perform tasks more efficiently and accurately, leading to higher quality products and services. This investment enhances customer satisfaction and gives the company a competitive edge.

Benchmarking Food Safety Culture

Being able to measure the ‘Level of Health’ for your food safety culture can be tricky but not impossible. Food safety professionals will often delve more into quantifiable traits when establishing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), but when it comes to measuring culture, qualifiable traits should be utilized as well. These qualifiable traits include employee attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors regarding food safety, which can be assessed through methods like employee surveys, interviews, and focus groups. Additionally, observing day-to-day interactions and the general atmosphere regarding food safety practices can provide valuable insights. It’s also beneficial to evaluate the level of engagement in food safety training sessions, the frequency and nature of internal food safety communications, and the willingness of employees to report issues and suggest improvements.

Quantifiable and Qualifiable Traits

Companies typically maintain key performance indicators (KPIs) as quantifiable metrics to gauge the success of their facilities and operations. These KPIs can range from simple measures like employee attendance or customer complaints to more detailed metrics like Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), which considers availability, performance, and quality.

But how do quantifiable measures work with qualitative measures in relation to food safety culture? These two types of measures often work in conjunction. Quantitative metrics provide concrete data, allowing companies to track performance and identify areas for improvement. Qualitative measures, on the other hand, offer context and insight into the company’s food safety culture, capturing aspects such as employee attitudes towards food safety, adherence to protocols, and overall awareness.

Integrating both types of measures is crucial for a holistic understanding of organizational health. For instance, while high OEE scores indicate efficient production processes, qualitative feedback from employees can reveal underlying issues affecting food safety practices and morale. By balancing quantitative data with qualitative insights, companies can create a more comprehensive strategy for continuous improvement and a robust food safety culture.

Striving for Continuous Improvement

Getting your company to achieve a strong food safety culture is just the beginning of the journey. At times, it can feel like an uphill battle until you, as an individual or part of a collective team, reach the pinnacle of compliance. As leaders in your facility driving these initiatives, it’s crucial to maintain a high level of food safety culture and awareness while also striving for continuous improvement.

Engaging employees in ongoing education about their roles and responsibilities related to both their job functions and food safety and quality is essential. Too often, production employees might say, “Well, I’m not in quality assurance, so I don’t have to worry about that.” This mindset underscores the importance of consistent reminders and education for the entire team. By doing so, you can drive and maintain high standards of food safety culture expectations while also providing employees with a sense of fulfillment in their roles.

Continuous improvement in a culture, especially one as critical as food safety, may not always be easy. It requires persistent effort, regular training sessions, and clear communication about the importance of food safety at all levels of the organization. Recognizing and rewarding adherence to food safety practices can also motivate employees to stay committed to these standards. By fostering a sense of collective responsibility and ownership, you can create a robust and resilient food safety culture that benefits the entire organization.

Ensuring Long-term Success

Ultimately, a strong food safety culture is about more than just compliance; it’s about creating an environment where every employee understands their role in maintaining food safety and feels empowered to take action. By focusing on both quantitative and qualitative measures, engaging employees at all levels, and striving for continuous improvement, companies can develop and sustain a food safety culture that ensures the safety and quality of their products.

To ensure long-term success, it is vital to embed food safety principles into the core values of the organization. This means fostering an open and transparent communication channel where employees can voice concerns and suggest improvements without fear of repercussions. Regular audits and reviews should be conducted to assess the effectiveness of food safety practices and identify areas for enhancement.

Leadership must also lead by example, demonstrating a commitment to food safety in their daily actions and decisions. This top-down approach reinforces the importance of food safety across all levels of the organization. Additionally, celebrating successes and recognizing employees who exemplify excellent food safety practices can motivate the entire team to uphold these standards.

By integrating food safety culture into the organizational fabric, companies can not only meet regulatory requirements but also build a reputation for reliability and excellence in the industry. This proactive approach not only protects consumers but also strengthens the brand, ensuring long-term success and sustainability in the market.