Section 71.03. Construction and sanitary maintenance.

 

(1)   General. A food warehouse shall be constructed and maintained in compliance with this chapter. Buildings, facilities, and equipment used in the operation of a food warehouse shall be soundly constructed, and shall be capable of being maintained in a clean and sanitary condition. A food warehouse shall be kept in good repair, and in a clean and sanitary condition.

(2)   Exterior premises.

(a) The premises immediately adjacent to a food warehouse shall be all of the following:

1. Well-drained, so that water does not accumulate around the food warehouse.

2. Kept in a neat and orderly condition.

3. Free of conditions that may contaminate food while the food is being received at, stored in, or shipped from the warehouse.

4. Free of conditions that may attract or harbor pests.

(b) Shipping and receiving areas, truck aprons, rail sidings, driveways, and parking areas adjoining a food warehouse shall be surfaced and maintained to facilitate good drainage. The areas shall be kept clean to minimize the entry of airborne dust and tracked dirt into a food warehouse.

(3)   Floors, walls, and ceilings. Floors, walls, and ceilings in a food warehouse shall be of sound construction, and shall be kept clean and in good repair. Floors, walls, and ceilings in cold storage areas, frozen food storage areas, toilet rooms, and areas used for the cleaning or storage of equipment shall be constructed of smooth, impervious, and easily cleanable materials.

(4)   Doors and windows. Doors, windows, skylights, and other openings to the outside shall be tight-fitting, free of breaks, and effectively screened or protected against the entry of rodents, insects, birds, and other animals. External doors, other than overhead doors in receiving and shipping areas, shall be self-closing. External doors shall be kept closed when not in use.

(5)   Lighting. Lighting in every part of a food warehouse shall provide easy visibility for every function performed in that part of the food warehouse. Lighting shall provide easy visibility for cleaning, inspection, identification of food, and visual evaluation of food condition. Artificial lights, skylights, and other glass fixtures over exposed food shall be equipped with protective shields or shatter-resistant bulbs.

(6)   Ventilation.

(a) A food warehouse, including food storage and handling areas, locker rooms, toilet rooms, employee break rooms, and garbage or rubbish storage areas, shall be adequately ventilated. Ventilation shall be adequate to keep the food warehouse free of excessive heat, condensation, vapors, obnoxious odors, smoke, and fumes.

(b) Heating, cooling, and ventilating systems, including ducts and pipes over food storage and handling areas, shall be designed or located to prevent conditions whereby drip or condensate may contaminate food or food packages. Intake fans shall be equipped with filters that are readily removable for cleaning and replacement. Intake fans, exhaust fans, and ventilation ducts shall be kept clean and in good repair and shall be screened or louvered to exclude dust and insects.

(7)   Refrigerated and frozen food storage facilities.

(a) Refrigerated and frozen food storage facilities shall be mechanically refrigerated.

(b) If a refrigerated food storage facility is used to store potentially hazardous food, the refrigerating capacity of that facility shall be adequate to maintain air temperatures at or below 40º F. (4 ° C.) at all times when the facility is loaded to maximum capacity, regardless of reasonably foreseeable external temperatures.

(c) If a frozen food storage facility is used to store potentially hazardous frozen food, the refrigerating capacity of that facility shall be adequate to maintain air temperatures at or below 5º F. (-15 ° C.) at all times when the facility is loaded to maximum capacity, regardless of reasonably foreseeable external temperatures.

(d) Every facility used to store refrigerated or frozen food shall be equipped with one or more temperature measuring devices. Measuring devices shall be accurate, and shall be installed to measure the warmest air temperature in the refrigerated or frozen food storage facility.

(8)   Receiving and shipping docks. Loading docks, truck bays, driveways, and rail sidings for receiving and shipping food products at a food warehouse shall be kept free of accumulated debris and spillage, and free of any foreign materials which may contaminate food or damage food packages.

(9)   Toilet facilities.

(a) A food warehouse shall have a sufficient number of toilet rooms to accommodate all warehouse personnel, according to chs. SPS 361 to 365 and applicable local regulations. Toilet rooms shall be conveniently located, completely enclosed, well-lighted, and equipped with tight- fitting, self-closing doors. Toilet rooms and fixtures shall be easily cleanable, and shall be kept clean and in good repair.

(b) Handwashing facilities shall be located in or adjacent to every toilet room. Handwashing facilities shall include hot and cold running water, soap in a soap dispenser, and a sanitary single-service means of drying the hands. A sign directing warehouse personnel to wash their hands shall be prominently posted in every toilet room used by warehouse personnel.

(10)   Locker and other personnel facilities. A food warehouse shall have lockers or similar facilities in which food warehouse personnel can store street clothing and other personal items while working at the warehouse. Locker areas, dressing areas, lunch and break areas, and similar personnel areas shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition, so that the areas are free of trash, food scraps, and litter which may attract or harbor pests.

(11)   Garbage and refuse disposal.

(a) Garbage and refuse shall not be allowed to accumulate in a food warehouse or on the grounds surrounding a food warehouse which are under the control of the warehouse operator. Garbage and refuse shall be removed regularly, and as often as needed, to keep the premises in a clean and sanitary condition.

(b) Garbage and refuse storage areas shall be well-drained, and shall be constructed and maintained so that they do not attract or harbor pests. Garbage and refuse shall be held in durable, leakproof, easily cleanable and pest-resistant containers. Containers shall be kept covered with tight-fitting lids, and shall be cleaned regularly to prevent unsanitary conditions.

(c) Garbage and refuse shall not be burned on the premises except in compliance with state and local laws. Garbage and refuse shall not be burned on the premises if burning may contaminate food.

(12)   Control of pests.

(a) A food warehouse operator shall take effective measures to prevent and, if necessary, control insects, rodents, and other pests in and around a food warehouse. A food warehouse shall be free of evidence of pest infestation, and shall be free of garbage, litter, and other conditions that may attract or harbor pests.

(b) Pesticides and other hazardous substances shall not be stored in food storage areas, and shall not be used in a manner which may contaminate food. Pesticides shall not be stored, handled, or used in a manner inconsistent with label directions, or in a negligent manner.

(13)   Cleaning.

(a) A food warehouse shall be neat and orderly, and shall be kept clean at all times. Storage facilities, equipment, and stored food shall be arranged so that all parts of the food warehouse can be effectively cleaned and inspected.

(b) A food warehouse operator shall keep the warehouse in a clean and sanitary condition. Cleaning operations shall not contaminate food or food packages. Detergents, sanitizers, and other cleaning materials shall be safe and effective for their intended uses.

(c) Equipment and utensils used to handle or store food in a food warehouse shall be kept clean, and shall be sanitized if necessary to prevent the contamination of food.

History: Cr. Register, June, 1994, No. 462 , eff. 7-1-94; correction in (9) (a) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register October 2004 No. 586 ; correction in (9) (a) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register February 2012 No. 674 ; correction in (7) (b) under s. 35.17, Stats.

Note

Pesticide storage and use must comply with ss. 94.67 to 94.71 , Stats., and ch. ATCP 29 . Pesticides must be registered for use by the U. S. environmental protection agency or by the department. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1