This Dairy Hygiene Operative job description sets out the main duties, qualifications, skills and measures of success for the role, which is also known as Factory Cleaner, Sanitation Operative, Hygiene Technician or Night Hygiene Operative. Download it free as a Word or PDF template and adapt it for your own vacancy.
| Job title | Dairy Hygiene Operative |
| Also known as | Factory Cleaner, Sanitation Operative, Hygiene Technician, Night Hygiene Operative |
| Department | Dairy processing |
| Reports to | Hygiene Supervisor |
| Direct reports | None |
What does a Dairy Hygiene Operative do?
Cleans and sanitises dairy factory equipment and areas so that products are safe to eat. Uses cleaning chemicals safely, follows cleaning schedules and keeps hygiene records, mainly on night shifts.
Dairy Hygiene Operative duties and responsibilities
Cleaning and sanitising
- Clean and sanitise equipment, floors, walls and drains to the cleaning schedule
- Take apart and refit simple equipment parts for cleaning, where trained
- Use foam units, hoses, pressure washers and hand tools correctly
- Rinse equipment fully so that no chemical is left behind
- Check that equipment is visibly clean before handing it back to production
Chemical safety
- Use cleaning chemicals only as shown on the label and safety data sheet
- Mix and dilute chemicals to the correct strength
- Wear the right PPE, such as gloves, goggles and aprons
- Store chemicals safely and report any spills straight away
Hygiene records and checks
- Fill in cleaning records and checklists accurately after each clean
- Help with hygiene tests, such as swabs, and act on the results
- Follow allergen cleaning rules between products
- Report damaged equipment, signs of pests or hygiene problems to the supervisor
Safety and teamwork
- Follow lock-out rules so that machines cannot start during cleaning
- Keep walkways clear and put out wet floor signs
- Report accidents, near misses and hazards straight away
- Give a clear handover to the day team at the end of each shift
Dairy Hygiene Operative qualifications and experience
Essential
- Basic reading, writing and number skills
- Ability to follow cleaning schedules and safety instructions
- Willingness to learn safe chemical handling
- Good attendance and timekeeping
- Willingness to work night shifts, including weekends
Desirable
- Basic food hygiene certificate or similar
- Experience of cleaning in a food factory, kitchen or similar setting
- Training in chemical safety or manual handling
Skills and attributes
- Attention to detail
- High standards of personal hygiene
- Working safely with chemicals
- Reliability and working without close supervision
- Careful record keeping
- Teamwork
How success is measured
- Cleaning schedule completed on time every shift
- Equipment passes visual and swab checks
- Complete and accurate cleaning records
- Chemical use within target
- No chemical incidents or spills
- No accidents or injuries
Working conditions and safety
Mainly night shifts, which may include weekends. The work takes place in wet, noisy and sometimes cold or warm areas, and involves standing, bending, lifting and using cleaning chemicals; PPE and training are provided.
- Follow health and safety rules and safe systems of work, and wear the correct PPE
- Follow food safety, hygiene, HACCP and quality procedures at all times
- Report hazards, accidents, near misses and concerns promptly
Dairy Hygiene Operative interview questions
Use these questions to assess candidates for a Dairy Hygiene Operative role. Each one includes what a good answer shows.
- What cleaning work have you done before, and what equipment did you use?
What a good answer shows: Describes real cleaning tasks and tools, or shows willingness to learn if new to food factory cleaning. - What are the main steps to clean a piece of food equipment?
What a good answer shows: Remove waste, pre-rinse, apply detergent, scrub, rinse, sanitise, check and record, in the right order. - How do you know an area is properly clean?
What a good answer shows: Checks visually for residue, uses swab or test results, and does not sign off until it passes. - Why must you fill in cleaning records after every clean?
What a good answer shows: Records prove cleaning was done, support food safety and audits, and must always be honest and accurate. - How do you use cleaning chemicals safely?
What a good answer shows: Reads labels and safety data sheets, uses the correct dilution and PPE, and never mixes chemicals. - Why is lock-out needed before cleaning a machine?
What a good answer shows: Stops the machine starting while hands or tools are inside; followed every time, with no shortcuts. - Night shifts can be demanding. How do you make sure you are reliable and on time?
What a good answer shows: Plans ahead, arrives on time, keeps focused on safety and quality right to the end of the shift. - How do you hand over to the day production team at the end of your shift?
What a good answer shows: Shares what was cleaned, any problems or damaged equipment, and anything still to finish. - You spill a cleaning chemical on the floor. What do you do?
What a good answer shows: Keeps people away, follows the spill procedure with the right PPE, cleans it up and reports it. - You find old product stuck inside a machine after cleaning. What do you do?
What a good answer shows: Cleans it again fully, does not sign off, and tells the supervisor so the cause can be fixed.
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Frequently asked questions
Cleans and sanitises dairy factory equipment and areas so that products are safe to eat. Uses cleaning chemicals safely, follows cleaning schedules and keeps hygiene records, mainly on night shifts.
Employers usually look for: basic reading, writing and number skills; ability to follow cleaning schedules and safety instructions; willingness to learn safe chemical handling.
A Dairy Hygiene Operative usually reports to the Hygiene Supervisor.
Yes. Download the free Word template, add your location, contract and salary details, and adapt the duties to your site. You can then advertise the role on Dairy Jobs.
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