HAZARD ANALYSIS TEMPLATE

Use our free template to create a personalized Hazard Analysis.
Just replace the words on the form when needed and download.

 

Company name:

Date: _________

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Hazard Analysis Template by www.fooddocs.com

Process Step Potential hazards
(P) Physical
(C) Chemical
(B) Biological
RLTO (Reasonably Likely to Occur) Justification of Decision Preventative Measures Is CCP?
Delivery of products (P) Contamination with foreign objects from packaging materials, and other physical hazards from production Yes / No Foreign objects can contaminate packed food products during the production process. Approved Supplier SOP Receiving SOP No  
(C) Contamination with naturally occurring and added hazardous chemicals Yes / No Raw ingredients may contain antibiotics and/or pesticides, industrial chemicals, environmental contaminants, colors, additives, and/or radionuclides. Approved Supplier SOP Receiving SOP No  
(B) Multiplication and survival of spore-forming and toxin-forming bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus Clostridium perfringens Clostridium botulinum Bacillus cereus Yes / No Raw ingredients are known to contain these biological hazards. Approved Supplier SOP Receiving SOP
Training SOP
No  
Cooking (P) Foreign objects in food: Wood, metal, plastic, glass, human hair, jewellery, buttons, thread, human nails, stones, and bandages Yes / No Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food: Draft Guidance for Industry Check produce before cooking. Produce must be free from soil and stones.

Establish a foreign object management program

Cleaning and sanitizing SOP

Employees' health and personal hygiene SOP

Personnel receive clear procedures and proper training on what checks to perform on incoming goods on foreign body check
No  
(C) Unwanted allergens Yes / No USDA FSIS Unreported Allergens
Food Code 2017 Recommendations of the United States Public Health Service Food and Drug Administration
Cook allergen special orders separately

Use separate utensils for allergen special orders

Wash hands, change apron, change gloves before cooking allergen-special orders

Avoid cross-contact with allergen

Allergens SOP

Identify allergen special orders by using a clear markers (different shape and/or color of plate, colored flags)

Wash, rinse, and sanitize utensils and equipment that will be used to cook allergen special orders
Yes  
(B) Multiplication and survival of spore-forming and toxin-forming bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus Clostridium perfringens Clostridium botulinum Bacillus cereus Yes / No Food Code 2017 Recommendations of the United States Public Health Service Food and Drug Administration Handwashing SOP

Pasteurization of dairy products

Heat treatment at 176˚F for 10 minutes

Proper refrigeration
Yes  
Cooling/ Chilling (P) Foreign objects in food: Wood, metal, plastic, glass, human hair, jewellery, buttons, thread, human nails, stones, and bandages Yes / No Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food: Draft Guidance for Industry Establish a foreign object management program

Cleaning and sanitizing SOP

Employees' health and personal hygiene SOP

Chill food only covered
No  
(C) Unwanted allergens Yes / No USDA FSIS Unreported Allergens
Food Code 2017 Recommendations of the United States Public Health Service Food and Drug Administration
Chill allergen special orders separately

Avoid cross-contact with an allergen

Allergens SOP

Identify allergen special orders by using a clear markers (different shape and/or color of plate, 
Yes  
(B) Multiplication and survival of spore-forming and toxin-forming bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus Clostridium perfringens Clostridium botulinum Bacillus cereus Yes / No Food Code 2017 Recommendations of the United States Public Health Service Food and Drug Administration Handwashing SOP

Fast cooling from 176˚F to 70˚F within 2 hours, then from 70˚F to 41˚F within 4 hours. In total maximum within 6 hours.

Proper/fast refrigeration after cooling.
Yes  
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Hazard analysis example by www.fooddocs.com

Company name:

Date: _________

Process Step Delivery of products  
Potential hazards
(P) Physical
(C) Chemical
(B) Biological
(P) Contamination with foreign objects from packaging materials, and other physical hazards from production  
RLTO (Reasonably Likely to Occur) Yes / No  
Justification of Decision Foreign objects can contaminate packed food products during the production process.  
Preventative Measures Approved Supplier SOP Receiving SOP  
Is CCP? No  
Process Step Delivery of products  
Potential hazards
(P) Physical
(C) Chemical
(B) Biological
(C) Contamination with naturally occurring and added hazardous chemicals  
RLTO (Reasonably Likely to Occur) Yes / No  
Justification of Decision Raw ingredients may contain antibiotics and/or pesticides, industrial chemicals, environmental contaminants, colors, additives, and/or radionuclides.  
Preventative Measures Approved Supplier SOP Receiving SOP  
Is CCP? No  
Process Step Delivery of products  
Potential hazards
(P) Physical
(C) Chemical
(B) Biological
(B) Multiplication and survival of spore-forming and toxin-forming bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus Clostridium perfringens Clostridium botulinum Bacillus cereus  
RLTO (Reasonably Likely to Occur) Yes / No  
Justification of Decision Raw ingredients are known to contain these biological hazards.  
Preventative Measures Approved Supplier SOP Receiving SOP;
Training SOP
 
Is CCP? No  
Process Step Cooking  
Potential hazards
(P) Physical
(C) Chemical
(B) Biological
(P) Foreign objects in food: Wood, metal, plastic, glass, human hair, jewelry, buttons, thread, human nails, stones, and bandages  
RLTO (Reasonably Likely to Occur) Yes / No  
Justification of Decision Hazard Analysis and Risk-Based Preventive Controls for Human Food: Draft Guidance for Industry  
Preventative Measures Check produce before cooking. Produce must be free from soil and stones;

Establish foreign object management program;

Cleaning and sanitizing SOP;

Employees' health and personal hygiene SOP;

Personnel receive clear procedures and proper training on what checks to perform on incoming goods on foreign body check
 
Is CCP? No  
Process Step Cooking  
Potential hazards
(P) Physical
(C) Chemical
(B) Biological
(C) Unwanted allergens  
RLTO (Reasonably Likely to Occur) Yes / No  
Justification of Decision USDA FSIS Unreported Allergens;
Food Code 2017 Recommendations of the United States Public Health Service Food and Drug Administration
 
Preventative Measures Cook allergen special orders separately;

Use separate utensils for allergen special orders;

Wash hands, change apron, change gloves before cooking allergen-special orders;

Avoid cross-contact with allergen;

Allergens SOP;

Identify allergen special orders by using a clear markers (different shape and/or color of plate, colored flags);

Wash, rinse, and sanitize utensils and equipment that will be used to cook allergen special orders
 
Is CCP? Yes  
Process Step Cooking  
Potential hazards
(P) Physical
(C) Chemical
(B) Biological
(B) Multiplication and survival of spore-forming and toxin-forming bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus Clostridium perfringens Clostridium botulinum Bacillus cereus  
RLTO (Reasonably Likely to Occur) Yes / No  
Justification of Decision USDA FSIS Unreported Allergens;
Food Code 2017 Recommendations of the United States Public Health Service Food and Drug Administration
 
Preventative Measures Handwashing SOP;

Pasteurization of dairy products;

Heat treatment at 176˚F for 10 minutes;

Proper refrigeration
 
Is CCP? Yes  

HACCP Hazard Analysis Template

The first step to the seven principles of a Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system is a hazard analysis. The hazard analysis template above will help you take that first step. Like any other systematic approach, identifying potential problems and conducting a thorough analysis are key steps to creating a robust preventive program.

A successful and complete hazard analysis can help HACCP teams create accurate and effective measures to control food safety hazards. Through this step, the HACCP team can focus on which parameters must be studied and monitored to create a complete HACCP plan.

Key points from this article

  1.  Hazard analysis is essential for implementing a HACCP food safety system by identifying potential hazards in a food business.
  2. Performing hazard analysis helps in the careful assessment of all operations from receiving raw materials to distributing finished products.
  3. The analysis includes identifying hazards, assessing their severity, likelihood of occurrence, and classifying them to establish critical control points.
  4. Hazard analysis is crucial for food manufacturers to maintain safety compliance and produce safe food products.
  5. Proper hazard analysis reduces the risk of foodborne illnesses, injuries, or financial losses by allowing the creation of effective preventive programs.
  6. A systematic approach to hazard analysis includes listing manufacturing steps, identifying hazards, and evaluating their potential impacts.
  7. Traditional methods of hazard analysis can be time-consuming and prone to errors, often requiring manual listing and tabulation.
  8. The digital solution from FoodDocs significantly speeds up the HACCP plan creation process, making it faster and cheaper than traditional methods.

 

The presence of food safety hazards in a food business is inevitable. The chances of these potential hazards causing problems can be minimized depending on your team's approach to food safety. To help you understand hazard analysis and guide you on how to perform it, you can read through this article and find out more efficient solutions on how to compose it, like the hazard analysis free tool above.

What is hazard analysis?

Hazard analysis is the first step in implementing a HACCP food safety system and is performed through the collection of information on the potential hazards in a food business and studying them. This process aims to carefully assess all of the operations in your food business and identify the potentially present hazards. It includes operations from receiving raw materials up to the distribution of finished products.

After identification, every health hazard will then be subjected to further analysis, such as determining its level of potential severity, the likelihood of occurrence, and its classification as a hazard. These parameters will serve as the basis for the next HACCP principles, such as establishing critical control points. 

Who needs to complete a preliminary hazard analysis?

Hazard analysis is a critical step for a HACCP food safety program as well as other food safety management for food manufacturers. It is essential to be performed to maintain food safety compliance and for the production of safe food products. As such, hazard analysis must be initiated by any business serving or selling  food to customers.

Regardless of whether the food business is required to implement a HACCP plan or not, hazard identification procedures are essential tasks for the production of safe foods. Food processing plants and food service businesses would significantly benefit from identifying every potential hazard in their business.

cooking haccp plan

Why is a process hazard analysis important?

Through hazard analysis process, food business teams can properly prepare and create preventive programs to protect consumers from potential hazards and unsafe conditions. When the hazard analysis step is carried out correctly, the probability of causing foodborne illness, injury, or loss of profit, as a result, is significantly reduced.

Hazard analysis is an essential step for a risk-based program, such as HACCP, to work. Through the activities involved in this process, your involved workers can properly plan and prevent the contamination of your wholesome food products and occurrences of outbreaks and food recall.

If your HACCP team fails to identify and analyze a particular hazard, appropriate safety control measures may not be set for the undetected hazard and can harm your entire processing. Regulatory hazard assessment is the process of finding the root causative agents of potential food safety issues in your operation.

During safety inspections, undetected hazards may prove to be significant problems and will merit the attention of a food safety inspector.

How to complete a hazard analysis with a template?

Hazard analysis is a systematic process. Its effective execution lies in the correctness of each step taken to finish the process. Hazard analysis starts right after your HACCP team has verified that your flow chart diagram is accurate.

To ensure that all potential hazards are identified and analyzed, follow this sequence of steps for a hazard assessment form:

1. List all the manufacturing process steps in your food operation from the flow chart diagram (e.g., delivery of products, cooking process/thermal process)

hazard analysis template process steps

2. Under each process step, identify every possible food safety hazard and label each hazard according to the types of key hazards i.e., (P) physical hazard, (C) chemical hazard, and (B) biological hazard.

e.g., (P) presence of foreign material residues from food packaging, (M) survival of pathogenic microorganisms after cooking

hazard analysis template potential hazards

3. Describe the potential severity of the hazard in question if left uncontrolled and the likelihood of this hazard from occurring. Use the common scale provided in a risk assessment matrix.

hazard analysis template reasonably likely to occur

4. Clearly identify how the hazard can become a significant problem in the food processor.

hazard analysis template justification of decision

5. For processes that are considered to have significant potential to harm consumers, assign appropriate preventive measures.

hazard analysis template preventative measures

6. In preparation for the next principle of HACCP, identify whether the process step is critical in controlling the particular hazard with a (YES) or (NO).

hazard analysis template critical control point

Proper hazard analysis evaluates all food safety hazards but only considers assigning preventive measures to hazards that have a reasonable probability of occurring. 

What is the easiest way to analyze hazards?

The traditional way of regular hazard assessments is through manually listing everything and creating tables either on paper or creating a spreadsheet. This process takes so much time and is very prone to human errors. An extensive range of hazard identification and analysis can last up to weeks.

You can use our Free Hazard Analysis Template, which has a built-in gauge for the severity and likelihood of a hazard from occurring and columns where you can clearly assess every hazard. This free basic hazard identification template was made to help HACCP teams accurately analyze and compile hazard evaluations.

You can also use our free flow chart template tool to construct a detailed flow diagram of your operations that you will need for hazard analysis as a step guide. 

Despite the convenience that our free hazard analysis template provides, you would still need to spend more time listing every hazard, analyzing them, and providing justifications and preventive measures for each. But there's a better, more cost-effective solution.

Get your hazard analysis and entire HACCP Plan done in 1 hour

Hazard analysis is just the  first step in the long process of building a HACCP food safety plan. This step already consists of several processes, which will only be followed by additional steps from the 6 remaining principles of the HACCP system. 

Getting your HACCP plan done as fast as you can means being able to operate safely as well. This means that having a HACCP plan is a top priority. Building this plan is not an easy task and takes several days or weeks, even with the help of a food safety consultant.

Luckily, our food safety experts at FoodDocs have come up with a digital solution that produces a done-for-you HACCP plan in just 1 hour! Using our built-in, customizable HACCP plan template builder, you can get a comprehensive HACCP plan template by just answering a few basic questions about your food business.

Preview of what FoodDocs' HACCP Plan builder will automatically do for you.

Once you are done, our system can automatically generate the HACCP plan template through the help of artificial intelligence and further improve it with our help. Sign up for a 14-day free trial today!

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You can get all the following components when you use our digital solution:

What is even greater with our system is that you can further customize every component to add, change, or improve the important information and fit your operations even better. 

Save a significant amount of time from building your HACCP plan by using our digital solution. Comparatively, our solution is 500x faster and 15x cheaper than hiring a consultant to do the job for you.

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Frequently asked questions

To help you understand this topic on hazard analysis more, here are some of the most commonly asked questions.

What is an activity hazard analysis used for?

Hazard analysis is a procedure used by the food industry to identify and evaluate potential food safety hazards and use the information as a basis for establishing preventive and corrective measures.

How do you perform a hazard analysis?

Hazard analysis is performed by listing all potential food hazards in your operations and describing every hazard based on their severity, likelihood, and general category of hazard. After these basic steps, a clear justification of how these hazards can harm public health and appropriate types of controls must be provided.

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