Floors in a food processing unit can harbor dangerous pathogens if they are dirty and damaged. Water pools near equipment are of concern, so also debris on floor.

Obviously, the best course of action is to prevent accumulation of debris and water pools in the first place.

This requires having a clean and a well-kept floor.

The entire process of safety starts with proper design, judicious selection of materials, and regular maintenance. These factors have assumed greater importance especially after the regulatory use of HACCP in the food industry has gained ground.

But choosing the right flooring system in a food plant has always been a challenge.

Flooring specialists suggest the following guidelines while selecting and installing flooring in a food processing plant.

•    Floors should be constructed of robust and easily cleanable materials.
•    Floor must have slip-resistant surface for safety.
•    The floor configuration must have a proper slope to avoid accumulation of puddles.

Luckily, polymer flooring fulfills all the above requirements.

Polymer flooring has been the preferred choice because of its many features.

The following distinct advantages can be summarized.

•    Seamless in design, thereby preventing buildup of dirt on the floor
•    Skid-resistance properties
•    Excellent impact resistance
•    Built-in antimicrobial protection
•    Good resistance to staining
•    Easy to clean
•    Reasonably priced.

But even polymer flooring requires maintenance to look clean and new at all times.

Food and beverage plants, especially meat processing units, need degreasers while cleaning because the spills contain blood, acids, and similar stuff. Besides, feet and wheels are also a source of contamination.

Of course, gowns, boots, and gloves worn by staff can address this issue, but they do so only partly. The best practice, therefore, is to have a comprehensive floor contamination control program.

Custom polymer flooring is a good solution because it is easily cleanable in all respects.

Food processing flooring is among the toughest to clean because it is subjected to extreme conditions. Temperature shocks because of continuous hot water washes, heavy movement of fork lift trucks, and corrosive products, all put together test the endurance of food plant floors.

When selecting the right flooring, utmost care must be exercised. After all, it is a matter of food safety for consumers.

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