Bridging the GAPs: Approaches to Treating Water On Farms

• Include date and time when recording observations, as this will assist with corrective actions

• Do not “doctor records;” records are meant to be an ac tual recording of data Recording false information could lead to unsanitary water conditions and potential contamination of produce

In addition to the above list, it is ideal to have a different individual responsible for monitoring than the person verifying documents. This allows for a second set of eyes to verify that critical limits were met. Finally, keep quality and safety records separate. The procedures and limits established in your irrigation treatment plan will be considered the standards upon which you are inspected against during an inspection or audit. Be sure these procedures outline the steps you take to maintain safety, rather than quality specifications.

What‘s wrong with this picture? When verifying records, pay careful attention to accuracy. Avoid doctoring records, for example recording actions ahead of time.

Record Retention

All implementation records (i.e., monitoring, corrective actions, verification activities) must be retained for at least two years past the date of creation. Records should also be readily available following upon an oral or written request from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

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