Specific Sample Location (SSL) definition
Specific Sample Location (SSL) means a specific geographical site that represents a singular environment. Examples of SSL’s include: a specific floor drain, the conveyor belt of a metal detector, the drip shield on a specific filler, etc. For environmental testing purposes, SSL’s should be sub-grouped as follows: ◦ Floor Level Areas (FLA): Those non-product contact surfaces that are close to the floor and have minimum proximity to product zone areas. Examples include: floor drains, floor/wall junctions, foot baths, floor entry ways, pallets, trash cart wheels, floor areas under equipment, low level cat walks, etc. ◦ Equipment Minor Surfaces (EMS): Non-product contact surfaces of fixed equipment in the plant that are not in very close proximity to product zone areas. These areas are generally lower down and do not pose an aerosol hazard to open product zones if sprayed with water, etc. Examples of EMS’s include: the underside of freezer frames, underside of flavor vats, underside of liquifiers, pipe work near and around silos and on walls not near open product zones, conveyors after wrappers, control panels, etc. ◦ Potential Product Zones (PPZ): PPZ’s are best described as equipment surface areas that are in very close proximity to direct product contact zones, and potential product zones. Many of these surfaces are on mobile equipment that can easily be disconnected and moved to other areas of the plant. Examples of PPZ’s include: filler table areas, tops of flavor vats, tops of liquifiers, any fruit feeder surface (includes lower frame work of the fruit feeder), pump housings, ingredient buckets, pipes above and around open product zones, and conveyor at waist level near or around the filler area, etc.