In the food processing and distribution industry, advanced cleaning machines and systems are essential to preventing the spread of harmful bacteria and allergens. Specifically, produce processing and distribution centers in fruit and vegetable farming hotspots have a heavy responsibility when it comes to maintaining a sanitary environment. In Florida, produce is grown and shipped across the state to facilities for nationwide distribution. Consequently, dust, dirt, bacteria, and even insects threaten the health of consumers throughout the country—just as much as on-site employees.
While an industrial floor sweeper provides an impressive level of sanitization and cleanliness, its air filtration capabilities are limited with standard models. Fortunately, HEPA filtration systems offer an additional line of defense against dangerous pathogens and other airborne particles. Combined with the right floor sweeper, HEPA filtration in food facilities better prevents food safety hazards in compliance with FDA recommendations.
Here are some excellent options for floor cleaning machines with compatible HEPA filtration:
PowerBoss Armadillo 6X Industrial Ride-On Sweeper
The sophisticated design of the PowerBoss Armadillo 6X industrial floor sweeper includes two side brooms for a huge sweeping path, rear-wheel suspension for minimal vibration, and oversized tires for better navigation. While the exterior parts of the Armadillo give it a sweeping capacity of 124,080 square feet per hour, it’s the internal filtration system that will help you avoid a food safety hazard in your produce processing facility.
This industrial floor sweeper features dual-panel, ultra-fine screen filters to remove air particles while you sweep for maximum dust control. Plus, the aggressive filter shakers work to clean your system for continued operational efficiency. This high-performance filtration system dramatically reduces the release of dust and debris back into the air. HEPA qualification for filters, however, requires at least a 99.97% efficiency rate in trapping and retaining particles as small as .3 microns. As a result, pairing the Armadillo 6X with a HEPA filtration in your produce processing plant will help you exceed FDA safety standards.
PowerBoss Admiral 32 XL Industrial Battery-Powered Scrubber
The PowerBoss Admiral 32 XL rider scrubber was designed for maximum operator usability. Its compact design enables operators to easily maneuver tight spaces and make 360 degree turns. The three different scrub modes plus vacuum-only mode give you exceptional cleaning power that is adjustable based on your needs. In particular, the vacuum-only mode can be used to recover dirty solution water as well as to pick up spills that could lead to airborne contaminant particles.
Subsequently, this powerful machine pairs perfectly with a HEPA filtration. The Admiral 23 XL prevents food contaminants from becoming airborne with its scrubbing and suction capabilities while the HEPA filter works to eliminate finer and existing particles from the air. Together, they ensure food processing facility sanitation that complies with the Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls (HARPC) requirements set by the FDA.
Even facilities that do not fall under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) are still partly governed by the USDA and NFPA and therefore must comply with a number of health and safety requirements. Certified HEPA filtration coupled with an advanced floor scrubber or sweeper keeps consumers and workers safe while also keeping your FDA-regulated or similar food processing and distribution facility in compliance.
With so many different floor sweepers and scrubbers on the market, it can be difficult to distinguish between the great and the not-so-great models. A machine can seem like the perfect fit for your business and budget when it actually has a poor filtration system that leaves your facility below FDA health recommendations. The PowerBoss Armadillo 6X Industrial Ride-On Sweeper and Admiral 32 XL Industrial Battery-Powered Scrubber are two excellent examples of cost-effective machines that offer both high-performance capabilities and high-quality filtration systems.
Protect the health and safety of consumers, employees, and your business's reputation by using an industrial sweeper or sweeper-scrubber with HEPA filtration in food facilities. For more information on how to bring PowerBoss equipment into your Florida food production or distribution center, call Factory Cleaning Equipment today!