Cleaning compounds should be stored in
the area remote from normal plant traffic,
with dry floors, moisture-free air, and mod-
erate temperature (to prevent freezing of liq-
uid products). This area should be equipped
with pallets, skids, or storage racks to keep
the containers off of floors and should be
locked to prevent theft.
Use of an inventory sheet is recommended
as an aid for reordering and pointing out
irregularities in product consumption. The
control of these cleaning materials should be
assigned to one person appointed by the
facility’s management to minimize product
waste and ensure that sufficient quantities of
each cleaning material are available when
required. This worker should be familiar
with each cleaning operation so that he or
she can instruct other employees in the cor-
rect techniques of any specific cleaning oper-
ation or use of cleaning equipment.
Selection of the correct cleaning material
and its proper application is sometimes
complicated. Suppliers of the cleaning com-
pound can provide specific directions for
both the compound, and its use. Clear
instructions will ensure that the product is
used effectively without damaging the sur-
face being cleaned. Supplier instructions for
cleaning specific equipment with commercial
cleaning compounds should be reviewed.
Compounds from different suppliers should
not be mixed.
Various areas in food plants require differ-
ent cleaning mixtures. Large plants normally
purchase basic cleaning compounds and
blend them into concentrated batch lots.
Many processing plants may devise 12 to 15
formulations to do specific jobs around the
plant. Smaller facilities frequently purchase
formulated cleaners in drum lots.
Regardless of how cleaning compounds
are procured and blended, these materials
should be handled with caution. Strong
chemical cleaners can cause burns, poison-
ing, dermatitis (inflammation of the skin),
and other problems to workers handling
them. Since the use of stronger compounds
has become prominent, there has been an
increase in vulnerability to injuries.Alkali Hazards
Strong alkaline cleaning compounds, in
both solid form and in solution, have a cor-
rosive action on all body tissue, especially the
eyes. Irritation from exposure to the material
is usually evident immediately. Damage fre-
quently includes burns and deep ulceration,
with ultimate scarring. Prolonged contact
with dilute solutions may have a destructive
effect on tissue. Dilute solutions may gradu-
ally degrease the skin, leaving vulnerable
tissue exposed to allergens or other dermati-
tis-promoting substances. It is important to
be aware that dry powder or particles can get
inside a glove or a shoe and cause a severe
burn. Inhalation of the dust or concentrated
mist of alkaline solutions can cause damage
to the upper respiratory tract and lung tissue.
Many alkaline materials react violently
when mixed with water. The heat of reaction
upon mixing may elevate the temperature
above the boiling point, and large amounts
of a hazardous mist and vapor may erupt.Acid Cleaner Hazards
Sulfamic Acid
This compound, one of the safer acid
cleaners, is a crystalline substance that can
be stored easily with a minimal hazard from
decomposition. However, it should be stored
in a location protected from fire because it
emits toxic oxides of sulfur when heated to
decomposition.Acetic Acid
This acid attacks the skin and is especially
hazardous to the eyes. It presents a greater
fire hazard than do many other commonCleaning Compounds 159