What is Hazard Analysis?
Hazard analysis is the process of identifying and evaluating potential hazards that could pose a threat to food safety at any stage of production, processing, or handling.
It is a fundamental step in the development of a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) plan, enabling businesses to proactively manage risks and ensure consumer safety.
Identifying Hazards
This involves systematically reviewing each step in the food production process to uncover biological (bacteria, viruses), chemical (allergens, toxins), and physical (metal fragments, glass) hazards. Proper identification requires a thorough understanding of ingredients, equipment, processes, and potential sources of contamination.
Assessing Risks
Once hazards are identified, each is evaluated for its severity and likelihood of occurrence. This risk assessment helps prioritize which hazards need critical control measures and guides decision-making in implementing effective monitoring and preventive strategies.
Our proven approach starts with developing tailored food safety programs and hazard analyses that support your operations. We begin with a detailed gap analysis to identify vulnerabilities and ensure your system is audit-ready and aligned with industry standards. Next, we validate that your controls and procedures work effectively to reduce risks and ensure compliance.
After validation, we support smooth implementation by integrating controls into your operations and offering hands-on guidance. To maintain success, we provide customized training that empowers your team to manage these systems confidently.
Partner with Points North Certified to build, validate, and implement a food safety program that protects your brand, meets regulatory requirements, and supports long-term excellence.
Build a Complete Hazard Analysis Backed by Expertise
At Points North Certified, we understand that effective documentation is the backbone of a successful food safety program. Our comprehensive suite of custom-developed documents and tools empower your team to meet regulatory standards, streamline operations, and achieve audit readiness with ease.
Whether you're launching a new product, updating an existing system, or enhancing your food safety protocols, we have the expertise to address any food safety challenge you may face. Our team is dedicated to delivering comprehensive, accurate assessments and actionable insights that safeguard your brand and foster confidence among your customers.
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Hazard Analysis Development & Support
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Hazard Analysis Creation
We collaborate with your team to create a precise flow diagram depicting every stage of your operation from raw material handling to distribution. Our experts ensure the diagram accurately reflects your processes, aiding hazard analysis and control. By considering ingredient sources, equipment, and product use, we develop a visual document that serves as the foundation of your HACCP plan.
Thorough Gap Analysis
We offer detailed gap analyses for any GFSI scheme, USDA, or FDA regulation. Our team evaluates your current systems, pinpoints vulnerabilities, and provides clear, actionable recommendations to close compliance gaps. Whether for certification or ongoing safety improvements, we help you stay audit-ready and compliant. Contact us today to strengthen your food safety system.
Hazard Analysis Validation
We assist in creating comprehensive validation and verification documents, including CCP summaries, monitoring routines, and verification checklists. Our independent third-party validation confirms controls are effective, providing evidence for audits and certification requirements. These documents are customized to your operation, ensuring clarity and practicality for ongoing verification and compliance.
Implementation
Our team supports seamless integration of new or existing programs, ensuring they meet industry standards such as GFSI, USDA, and FDA. We assist in training staff, establishing procedures, and embedding controls into daily operations, helping you achieve system integrity and regulatory readiness.
Custom Training
We guide your team through the implementation process, integrating your flow diagram and hazard controls into daily routines. We deliver hands-on training sessions, focusing on your hazard analysis. Our goal is to embed food safety into your corporate culture, ensuring staff understand their roles and procedures are executed correctly, consistently, and sustainably.
Contact us for your free consultation today
Comprehensive Hazard Analysis & Documentation Solutions
We understand that thorough, accurate documentation is the backbone of a successful food safety system. That’s why we offer a full suite of services designed to meet your unique operational needs, validate your controls, and ensure ongoing compliance. Our expertise covers everything from hazard analysis to environmental assessments, providing you with everything necessary for audit success and continuous improvement.
Our Document and Tool Services Include
Hazard Analysis:
In-depth assessments tailored to your processes, identifying biological, chemical, and physical risks.
Individual CCP Summaries:
Clear, focused summaries of each Critical Control Point to streamline monitoring and management.
Monitoring Procedures:
Customized routines to ensure CCPs are consistently controlled and hazards are minimized.
Corrective Action Procedures:
Practical steps to resolve deviations swiftly, safeguarding product safety and compliance.
Verification Procedures:
Reliable methods to confirm controls are working effectively over time.
Record Keeping Procedures:
Document templates and systems are designed for easy, accurate record maintenance and audit readiness.
Custom Decision Trees:
Visual guides tailored to your operation that simplify complex decision-making at critical points.
Specific/Customized Verification Documentation:
Tailored validation reports and checklists supporting your ongoing compliance efforts.
Third-Party Document Verification:
Independent review to ensure your documentation is accurate, compliant, and audit-ready.
Environmental Factors Assessment:
Comprehensive evaluation of environmental risks related to your facility's specific conditions, with mitigation strategies.
FDA – Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)
FDA - Draft Guidance for Industry: Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food
USDA (FSIS) - Guidebook for the Preparation of HACCP Plans
9 CFR 417.2 - § 417.2 Hazard Analysis and HACCP Plan.
21 CFR 117.130 - § 117.130 Hazard analysis.
Helpful Links
Experienced Industry Experts
Our team brings decades of hands-on validation experience across multiple food sectors, including meat & poultry, baked goods, snack foods, beverages, and more.
Support & Continual Improvement
We provide guidance for ongoing validation activities, re-validation schedules, and performance monitoring to sustain food safety over time.
Detailed and Clear Documentation
Our validation reports and protocols are comprehensive, transparent, and designed to support your internal records, external audits, and regulatory inspections.
Regulatory & Certification-Ready
We tailor validation procedures to meet FDA, USDA, GFSI, and other relevant standards, ensuring your processes are audit-ready and certification compliant.
Our relationship doesn’t end once your programs are created. We offer ongoing support, help monitor performance, and review your systems periodically to identify areas for improvement, ensuring your food safety practices stay current and effective.
Why Partner with Points North Certified?
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