Congratulations to the team at Double Tree by Hilton London Victoria, who have just been awarded this best performance trophy by Richard Hannay of HSQC.

Ask us now about how SERVO can help your team stay at the top of their game! For a personalised account for your organisation contact: [email protected]

There are no apps to download and no surprise in-app purchases. There’s no extra software to download or hardware to be bought.

Once registered, your managers can upload all the due diligence information that you need to monitor daily, such as:

• Food Receipt / Delivery Records
• Food Storage Temperature Records
• Temperature Probe Calibration Records
• Defrosting Records
• Breakage Logs
• Looking and Reheating Logs
• Food Display Temperature Records
• Blast Chiller Records
• Hot Holding Records
• Structural Fabric and Equipment Maintenance Logs

You can enrol a group of users to our Level 2 Food Safety Training by completing this form.

This course will ensure that food handlers have an understanding of the basic parameters which affect Food Safety. Your team members who prepare or handle food will gain a good grasp of the importance of food safety and knowledge of the systems, techniques and procedures involved in the preparation and service of food. They will gain the confidence and expertise to deliver quality food safely to customers. Delegates who complete the session will receive a Certificate of Achievement. Useful for Chefs, Servers, Maintenance and Management personnel. This qualification will lay the foundations for further advanced and specific food safety associated training modules.

In the news this week:

April is stress awareness month.  The Health and Safety Executive has launched a campaign to tackle stress in the workplace. Read through the five steps in the full article below to see if your business is complying.

Mental health is costing the UK economy a lot of money with staff being off work.

If you need any support with stress at work HSQC can assist with this vital topic, just email us at: [email protected]

HSQC have over 40 years of experience as a leading international safety and quality management consultancy. Our team provide technical advice and laboratory and scientific support to businesses in the hospitality, food, leisure, tourism, and catering industries.

Full article from HSE here (02.04.22)

A recent hotel stay for one of our consultants!

What are the potential health and safety hazards which come to mind? Which controls could be in place to negate the hazard? Has your hotel business got the correct documentation in place regarding windows?

If you need advice regarding the safety systems within your workplace, email us at: [email protected]

HSQC have over 40 years of experience as a leading international safety and quality management consultancy. Our team provide technical advice and laboratory and scientific support to businesses in the hospitality, food, leisure, tourism, and catering industries.

 

  • Possible hazards include:
  • Staff and customers falling out of the window
  • Fall from height
  • Contractor safety
  • Lack of training or risk assessment
  • Controls include:
  • Fitting adequate window restrictors
  • Staff and management checks on a regular basis to ensure restrictors are in place, in good repair and working correctly

The UK Health & Safety Executive says:
“Windows that are large enough to allow people to fall out should be restrained sufficiently to prevent such falls. The opening should be restricted to 100mm or less. Window restrictors should only be able to be disengaged using a special tool or key.”

Did you spot them all?

insectocutor fly killerRegular queries come up during audit visits relating to the proper usage of electric flying insect killers.

Do they work?
Where should they be placed?
How often should they be cleaned?
Should they be kept on at all times, even through a cost of living crisis?
What is the best way to prevent flying insects from entering food premises?

If you need any pest control advice regarding the systems within your workplace, email us at: [email protected]

HSQC have over 40 years of experience as a leading international safety and quality management consultancy. Our team provide technical advice and laboratory and scientific support to businesses in the hospitality, food, leisure, tourism, and catering industries.

 

 

 

  • The short answers:
  • An insectocutor does help with the prevention of flying pests in food premises. It is normally a requirement of a food safety management system to provide one as pro-active pest control.
  • They are best placed in a dark area so the Ultra Violet light attracts flying insects. They should NOT go above a work surface, this could end up with flying insects in food items meaning foreign body contamination.
  • The unit in the larger picture clearly shows dead flies inside it. This now needs cleaning. For the UV bulbs to be continuously working it is vital to liaise with your pest control contractor regarding the cleaning and maintenance of the bulbs.
  • Yes, the unit must be kept on at all times to attract flying insects into the UV light. Always use compatible UV bulbs. We have seen units where the UV bulbs have been replaced with normal light bulbs! These will not attract flying insects.
  • The best way to prevent flying insects entering food premises is having screens on all openable windows and doors.

Did you get them all?

In the news this week:

There is an ongoing discussion about food labelling in the UK: when is it misleading, and are new proposals draconian? Are you confident about the correct labelling of milk, cheese and dairy products in your business?

HSQC can support your operation and offer advice on appropriate food labelling, just email us at: [email protected]

HSQC have over 40 years of experience as a leading international safety and quality management consultancy. Our team provide technical advice and laboratory and scientific support to businesses in the hospitality, food, leisure, tourism, and catering industries.

Full article from The Guardian online here (24.02.24)

In the news this week:

A potential cholera outbreak left cruise ship guests in quarantine. What would you do if a food borne disease outbreak was associated with your premises?

For information and advice on the prevention of food borne diseases in your business, email us at: [email protected]

HSQC have over 40 years of experience as a leading international safety and quality management consultancy. Our team provide technical advice and laboratory and scientific support to businesses in the hospitality, food, leisure, tourism, and catering industries.

Full article from LBC News online here (27.02.24)

hazard analysisOne of our environmental health consultants was returning home and had to stop to snap this scene. Above the hedge is a gentleman undertaking some window cleaning activities on a domestic dwelling. On closer inspection he was standing on the conservatory roof with cleaning apparatus. Wow, so many questions!

Which potential health and safety hazards come to mind? Which controls should be in place to prevent a nasty accident?

If you need advice regarding the safety systems within your workplace, email us at: [email protected]

HSQC have over 40 years of experience as a leading international safety and quality management consultancy. Our team provide technical advice and laboratory and scientific support to businesses in the hospitality, food, leisure, tourism, and catering industries.

 

  • Possible hazards include:
  • Slip, trip & fall
  • Fall from height
  • Contractor safety
  • Lack of training or risk assessment
  • Potential Legionella from water spray
  • Controls include:
  • Use extension equipment from ground level
  • Work in pairs
  • Use appropriate working at height equipment such as mechanical lifts, fall arrest systems, towers

Did you spot them all?