RG-001-Cleaning in Cultivation and Processing Areas

RKB0010106

PURPOSE

The purpose of this procedure is to ensure that the sanitization requirements set forth in state regulations are met with respect to the cleaning and sanitization of areas and equipment involved in the cultivation and processing of cannabis. Proper use of cleaning techniques and sanitization measures will ensure a high-quality product, free from bacterial, fungal and chemical contamination.

IMPLEMENTATION

This procedure should be implemented by all employees to maintain a clean state of all areas and equipment used for the cultivation and processing of cannabis.  This includes but is not limited to rooms, fertigation tanks, stationary and portable equipment; and all utensils. 

SCOPE 

This procedure is intended for use in the cleaning and sanitization of all areas and equipment used for the cultivation and processing of cannabis.  This procedure should be followed after each use of the equipment and as per cleaning frequency for rooms.

Note: For cleaning of the Mother, Clone, Flower, Trim, and Drying/Curing rooms refer to the associated room specific procedures.  

DEFINITIONS

  • Dedicated Equipment: Equipment which is assigned to a specific room and is cleaned in conjunction with the room cleaning.
  • IPA: Isopropyl Alcohol.
  • Portable Equipment: Equipment which is transported between rooms and can be cleaned in the cleaning room (i.e.: harvest and clone carts).
  • Utensils: Tools used for the cultivation and processing of cannabis (i.e.: scissors, forceps, scoops); in addition to any containers/bins/trays used for storage or collection.
  • Work Surfaces:  Surfaces that include but are not limited to such equipment as work and trim tables.

RESPONSIBILITY

It is the responsibility of all employees working in the cultivation and processing areas to follow the instructions set out in this procedure.

MATERIALS

  • 70% Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA)
  • Bench Top Covering (i.e.: polypropylene)
  • Bucket
  • Chemical Spill Kit
  • Cleaner (SIGNET Neutral Disinfectant Cleaner)
  • Cleaning Pad
  • Dry Wipe
  • Dust Pan
  • Garbage Bags
  • Mop
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  • Push Broom
  • Scrub Brush
  • Sanitizer (SIGNET Hard Surface Sanitizer) 
  • Spray Bottle
  • Wash Basin
  • Wet Floor Signs
  • Strip-It
  • KleenGrow
  • Sump Pump
  • Electric Pressure Washer

ASSOCIATED DOCUMENTS

  • PP-010 (Destruction of Cannabis)
  • SN-F004 (Sanitation Log)
  • SN-F013 (Equipment Cleaning Log)

Procedure

 

*Note: All staff are required to wear appropriate PPE, as indicated by SDS, when using cleaning materials.

General

  • Remove all growing medium, root systems and stalks (to not include leaves, or branches) from the equipment, work surfaces or floors by hand and place in a waste receptacle. 
  • Place all plant material (leaves, flowers, branches and seed) in a collection bag and tie wrap for destruction. Apply a blue Cannabis For Destruction label. 
  • Handle all cannabis waste according to PP-010 (Destruction of Cannabis).
  • Store in the cannabis shipping area or move to a licensed room for destruction.
  • Pre-clean all portable equipment and utensils by wiping with a damp wipe. 
  • If resin is present, spray with 70% IPA and wipe dry.
  • Take all portable equipment and utensils to the cleaning area or clean in the room if a basin is available.
  • Record all cleaning activities on SN-F013 (Equipment Cleaning Log).
  • Equipment can be documented as cleaned in bundles (i.e. 6 scissors, 2 harvest carts, 25 clone domes).

Floors
Cleaning Frequency

Note: Mother, Clone, Flower, Trim, and Drying/Curing room floors are cleaned as per the associated room specific procedures.

All other Cultivation and Processing room floors are to be cleaned as required and at minimum once per week. 

Cultivation and Processing Corridor floors are to be cleaned as required and at a minimum once per day during regular business hours. 

All other floors are to be cleaned as required. 

Document the cleaning on PP-F004 (Sanitation Log).

Sweeping

Prior to sweeping, place plant material (leaves, flowers, branches and seeds) in a collection bag and tie wrap for destruction. Apply a blue Cannabis For Destruction label. 

Handle all cannabis waste according to PP-010 (Destruction of Cannabis).

Store in the cannabis shipping area or move to a licensed room for destruction.

Sweep all floor surfaces thoroughly using a push broom, if required.

Place all collected non-plant waste material in a waste receptacle.

Spills

All chemical spills are to be reported to a supervisor.

Once reported, if necessary follow directions found within a Chemical Spill Kit to properly clean and dispose of any spilled chemicals.

To identify the spill hazard, use a “WET FLOOR” sign for warning purposes.

Sanitization

Fill a bucket with SIGNET Neutral Disinfectant Cleaner.

Mop the entire floor, ensuring thorough and consistent coverage.

The surface must remain wet for a minimum of 10 minutes.

Allow the floor to air dry. While drying ensure “WET FLOOR” signs are used.

Rooms 

Cleaning Frequency

Note: Mother, Clone, Flower, Trim, and Drying/Curing room floors are cleaned as per the associated room specific procedures.

All other Cultivation and Processing rooms are to be cleaned as required and at minimum once per month. 

Document the cleaning on PP-F004 (Sanitation Log).

Sanitization

Fill a bucket with SIGNET Neutral Disinfectant Cleaner.

In a top down fashion, mop the ceiling, walls then floor, ensuring thorough and consistent coverage.

The surface must remain wet for a minimum of 10 minutes.

Allow to air dry. 

Wipe down all hard to clean surfaces, such as electrical conduit, receptacle boxes and card swipes with 70% IPA or SIGNET Hard Surface Sanitizer. 

Allow to air dry.

Work Surfaces

Wiping

Note: If a work surface is particularly prone to accumulating large amounts of resin it is recommended that a bench-top covering (such as polypropylene) be used.  

Remove the bench top covering if used.

Wipe work surface thoroughly using a damp wipe.

Place all collected waste materials in a waste receptacle.

Resin Removal

Fill a spray bottle with 70% IPA or other approved cleaning agent.

For stubborn residue, wet with 70% IPA and allow it to soak in to soften, then wipe dry.   

Sanitization

Completely wet surface with 70% IPA or SIGNET Hard Surface Sanitizer.

After 1-minute wipe residual sanitization agent away with a clean, dry wipe and allow the surface to air dry.

Upon completion, all work surfaces are visually inspected for any signs of residue. If found, clean the impacted areas again. 

Record cleaning activity on SN-F013 (Equipment Cleaning Log).

Cultivation and Processing Equipment

Preparation

Remove any large detritus from the equipment by hand and place in the waste receptacle. 

Place all plant material (leaves, flowers, branches and seed) in a collection bag and tie wrap for destruction. Apply a blue Cannabis For Destruction label. 

Handle all cannabis waste according to PP-010 (Destruction of Cannabis).

Store in the vault or move to Ship/Clean/Destruction room for destruction.

Pre-Cleaning

Separate all equipment into component parts. 

If resin is present spray with 70% IPA or another approved cleaner. 

For stubborn residue, wet with 70% IPA and allow it to soak in to soften, then wipe dry.   

Component parts can then be transported to the cleaning area.

Electronic Equipment

Note: Ensure all electrical equipment (such as scanners, labelling machines and scales) are unplugged. Failure to do so could result in shock or damage to the equipment.

If the equipment is to be taken apart as for a detail cleaning, follow the operation manual for disassembly and assembly instructions.

Fill a spay bottle with 70% IPA.

Spray a dry wipe to wet with 70% IPA.

Completely wipe down the equipment surface.

Allow the residual alcohol to evaporate until dry.

Record cleaning activity on SN-F013 (Equipment Cleaning Log).

Portable Equipment

Transport all portable equipment and utensils to the cleaning area. The items will be cleaned and sanitized and then returned to the appropriate room or storage area until the next use.

Clean with SIGNET Neutral Disinfectant Cleaner.

Spray the entire equipment surface ensuring thorough and consistent coverage, including any hard to reach areas. 

Wipe clean with a clean wipe.

Sanitize with SIGNET Hard Surface Sanitizer. 

After 1-minute, wipe and allow to air dry. 

Upon completion, all work surfaces are visually inspected for any signs of residue. If found, clean the impacted areas again. 

Record cleaning activity on SN-F013 (Equipment Cleaning Log).

Utensils

Resin Removal

Fill a spray bottle with 70% IPA or another approved cleaner.

 Spray the item completely and wipe dry.

Sanitization (Spraying)

Fill a spray bottle with SIGNET Neutral Disinfectant Cleaner for use and label accordingly.

Spray and wipe the entire equipment surface ensuring thorough and consistent coverage, including any hard to reach areas.

Fill a spray bottle with SIGNET Hard Surface Sanitizer for use and label accordingly.

Spray the entire equipment surface ensuring thorough and consistent coverage, including any hard to reach areas.

After 1-minute, dry with a clean wipe and allow to air dry.

Upon completion, all items are visually inspected for any signs of residue. If found reclean the impacted areas.

Return clean utensil to storage and place in a bin labeled as “Clean”.

Record cleaning activity on SN-F013 (Equipment Cleaning Log).

Sanitization (Soaking)

Fill a wash basin with an appropriate amount of SIGNET Neutral Disinfectant Cleaner.

Completely immerse the item in the cleaning agent and scrub the entire equipment surface including any hard to reach areas. Rinse with clean water.

Fill a spray bottle with SIGNET Hard Surface Sanitizer for use and label accordingly.

Spray and wipe the entire equipment surface ensuring thorough and consistent coverage, including any hard to reach areas.  

After 1-minute, dry with a clean wipe and allow to air dry.

Upon completion, all items are visually inspected for any signs of residue. If found reclean the impacted areas.

Return clean utensil to storage and place in a bin labeled as “Clean”.

Record cleaning activity on SN-F013 (Equipment Cleaning Log).

Fertigation Tanks

Note: Extreme caution is required when working with electrical equipment near large volumes of water.

Note: No employee is permitted to climb inside a tank for cleaning.

Open the lid and completely drain the tank with a flat head sump pump.

Fill electric power washer with a desired quantity of Strip-It solution.

Starting from the bottom of the tank, thoroughly rinse the tank working upwards around the circumference of the tank. This ensures the lower section of the tank is cleaned while the liquid level rises.

Completely drain the tank with a flat head sump pump.

Drain and fill electric power washer with a desired quantity of KleenGrow solution.

Again, starting from the bottom of the tank, thoroughly rinse the tank working upwards around the circumference of the tank.

Completely drain the tank with a flat head sump pump.

With the sump pump running, perform a thorough final rinse with water using the pressure washer to ensure all residual cleaning agent has been removed.

Turn off the pressure washer and remove all remaining water from the tank.

Remove the sump pump and ensure the lid is secured on the tank opening. 

Record cleaning activity on SN-F013 (Equipment Cleaning Log).

Monitoring

Clean equipment will be tested for residual microbes. These results will be monitored to establish alert/action limits. When microbes are detected, the designated manager notifies the QA Manager and attempts to determine the cause of the high count (for example, cleaning procedures varied, new people cleaned the equipment, sanitizer not applied). If microbial counts remain high the QA Manager will confer with the Cultivation Manager. The Cultivation Manager will notify all sanitization employees and review all cleaning and sanitizing procedures and personal hygiene. Once the Root Cause has been identified, Corrective Actions will be implemented to prevent direct product contamination or adulteration. 

Note: As floor surfaces will be cleaned on an as-needed basis to a minimum of once per week, microbial monitoring will not be conducted. The bioburden within the facility will be assessed through other monitoring activities.