At Bake Parlor, practicing good hygiene is the order of the day. Other than the numerous benefits, some of which we'll share further on, it eliminates hundreds of unwanted risks for our bread factory as well as for our bakers. It ensures all-rounded health which does not only include physical but mental health as well. Keeping the entire body clean is not just efficient in preventing diseases and illnesses from harmful bacteria but also, gives our staff self-confidence.

For a baker to be truly hygienic, one needs to incorporate many personal habits into their daily lives. The management at Bake Parlor is vigilant of the hygiene factors at the workplace and has stringent measures in place to avoid any lapse. Here are some of the rules that Bake Parlor adheres to, to ascertain good hygiene practices include:

• Implementing A Hygiene Policy

It's essential for the management to provide their staff with a formal written policy which informs them of the expectations and intentions of the organization regarding cleanliness of the workplace. The policy can be communicated through visual aids such as email reminders and wall posters in the office.

• Taking Out the Trash

The next most important task is to take out the trash daily, after a long day of baking fresh bread for customers. It is important to realize that if left alone for a prolonged period, the waste from a bread production line, being pure organic matter, poses the threat of turning into a breeding ground for microorganisms such as germs and bacteria. This is detrimental to an establishment that deals with fresh food. Therefore, Bake Parlor has systems in place to remove all organic waste matter at the end of every baking shift.

• Minimizing The Clutter

Making sure that the workstations and countertops used by bakers are clean and the pantry ingredients are organized. This keeps everything tidy at our production plants.

• Assessing All the Risks

To enhance the cleanliness of the workplace, it's important to firstly assess all the risks and prioritize the specific areas of concern. A full fledged assessment of the facility will highlight the key areas which can be prone to dirt, dust, clutter, suffocation, and other such environmental factors such that precautions can be undertaken in those directions.

• Providing A Clean Bathroom

A clean bathroom is a crucial and pivotal requirement concerning workplace hygiene. At Bake Parlor, all bathrooms are adequately stocked with soap, tissue paper, sanitary pads, trashcans, and paper towels. Dedicated janitorial staff ensure that the stalls are spick and span at all times.

• Scheduled Fumigation

Apart from the daily cleaning, it's important to schedule a fumigation occasionally; especially if you work in the bread or food making industry. Bake Parlor is a proud holder of Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Standards license. While the ingredients/raw materials are stored in the warehouses, the factory should be fumigated then thoroughly cleaned for any toxic matter and vice versa.

• Encouraging Employee’s Hygiene

The employees should know their role and play their part in the hygiene of the workplace for which the management may train the staff to practice good hygiene and consider it as a part of their responsibility.

• Providing Cleaning Essentials

Providing the employees with items such as tissues, clean wipes, sanitizer to encourage and assist the employees in maintaining good hygiene and cleanliness in the workspace. Bake Parlor has vividly noticed that employees are much more likely to make use of these items when they are readily accessible.

Moving forward, let's briefly discuss hygiene at Bake Parlor and how we strive to maintain it. For us, it is a sanitary science that is aimed to produce quality and safe bread for the consumer and to build loyalty during the process.

The first aspect of managing hygiene is to deal with the procurement and storage of raw materials. The freshness and quality of all the raw materials need to be the highest grade. Henceforth, with careful consideration and thoughtful cleanliness of the storage, the raw materials are placed. Next, the focus comes to the preparation of those raw materials; to prep them the way they are required, be it cleaning or sorting. Once they are prepped, the cooking and processing of the items are commenced. Sterilized heavy equipment then creates the final product which is then packaged and boxed as per the requirements. Complying with the food safety laws is one of the most vital necessities of the food industry. Not only because it is required by the law, but because there are many benefits of adhering to stringent hygiene practices for the management:

1. Increased Productivity of The Workforce

One of the pillars of Bake Parlor is its employees. To keep them strong and steady, it is crucial to make sure they are taken care of and satisfied with the environment, motivation, and tools around them for a job well done. In the case of heavy industrial workers, there must always be a hygienic and safe environment provided for them to operate in. Inadequate safety measures not only strike physical hazards to people, but also trigger endless distractions in the face of inattentiveness, stress, fatigue, and anxiety. Hygiene and safety will help eliminate the stressors, upkeep the employee motivation and wellbeing, and therefore, better health -mentally and physically.

2. Reduced Costs of Healthcare

Heavy industrial workers are often exposed to higher healthcare costs due to the lack of safety. Injuries caused due to the nature of their jobs may sometimes result in short-term and, in extreme cases, permanent injuries. They might have to suffer mental trauma as well which will eventually contribute to considerable healthcare costs. Therefore, exacting standards of industrial cleaning must be implemented, and safety measures should be up to the standards. Bake Parlor is certified with HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points), showcasing to the customers our commitment to producing safe and healthy bread. By implementing and following such standards, heavy industries will be able to mitigate many potential hazards and create a comfortable workspace for the workers, and therefore, ensure better health of the workforce and lower costs in the long run.

3. Reduced Worker Absenteeism

One of the most costly wastage of assets for an organization is the wastage of time and resources. Workers of a heavy industry are always exposed to health hazards which often leads to absenteeism. It is one of the worst repercussions caused by accidents or health issues. However, with adherence to high standards of safety and hygiene, Bake Parlor has overcome the loss of productivity and significant business costs. Industries at large will be able to resolve the issue of monthly turnover with a decrease in illnesses and/or injuries and will also cut down on the costs of professional treatments, employee rehabilitation, and the need to hire additional resources.

4. Maintained Levels of Professionalism

A reputable industrial organization like Bake Parlor does not shy away from recognizing and establishing occupational hygiene and is always highly regarded in terms of sincerity and professionalism. It acts as an indicator of the value they give to their bakers and other employees, as well as the community. An organization with a built reputation of a safe and hygienic workplace fulfills its corporate social responsibility and professionalism that comes as a part of maintaining a safe and clean work environment. It also plays a fundamental role for their partners, clients, and stakeholders. Thus, it becomes part of the image of your brand. Because at Bake Parlor, we envision that someday all bread will be baked the way we bake it.