Here’s what we recommend you do to prepare for your audit:
1. Review the FBO operator guide
The guide can be used as an optional self-assessment to review readiness for your Safe to Trade® audit. It details each Standard ‘requirement’ that must be met to become Safe to Trade approved, and provides examples of the type of documents, procedures and level of detail that the auditor may expect to see.
Following the guidance in this document isn’t a requirement for certification, but will help demonstrate compliance. The examples provided are just suggestions and should be applied appropriately. Any evidence provided should be solid enough to withstand scrutiny from the auditor and align with industry standards.
As the guide is not aimed at specific premises, it is also important to ensure your Food Safety Management System and Health and Safety Management System is up to date and that any specific operational requirements from these are applied. Your welcome email should contain access to the guide, but it can also be downloaded here.
2. Check compliance with your Food Safety Management System (FSMS) and Health and Safety Management System
Your Food Safety Management System (FSMS) also known as HACCP, is not included within Safe to Trade, but is very much a pre-requisite. It is a legally required documented system based on HACCP principles. It is based on Food Law legal requirements and often also company policy requirements that includes details of how to make safe food in terms of:
- Protection from contamination
- Safe chilling and temperature-controlled display and storage
- Safe cooking, reheating and hot holding
- Cleaning and disinfection
- Management of the FSMS
3. Familiarise yourself with the audit module in RiskProof
Make sure you know how to access audit reports and access non-conformances as you will need to update non-conformances after your audit.
4. Make sure that Shield Safety is aware of when your location is not accessible
It’s important that the Safe to Trade auditor has access to the premises when they visit. As the audit is unannounced, it is important that you let Shield Safety know in advance of any out of the ordinary closures such as refurbishments.
5. Make sure Shield Safety has the right email address for your location
It is important throughout the certification journey that we have the correct email address for your location. If you haven’t received a Safe to Trade welcome email before your audit, or aren’t receiving Safe to Trade emails about non-conformance closure after your audit, we may have the wrong contact details for you and you should contact customerservices@shieldsafety.co.uk to get these updated.