Standard Operating Procedure for Routine Warehouse Housekeeping and Cleaning Procedures
| Department | Warehouse / Quality Assurance / Maintenance |
|---|---|
| SOP No. | SOP/RM/148/2025 |
| Supersedes | SOP/RM/148/2022 |
| Page No. | Page 1 of 15 |
| Issue Date | 17/03/2025 |
| Effective Date | 24/03/2025 |
| Review Date | 17/03/2026 |
1. Purpose
This Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) outlines the guidelines for routine housekeeping and cleaning procedures in the warehouse to ensure a clean, organized, and safe environment in compliance with Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP).
2. Scope
This SOP applies to all personnel responsible for the cleaning, maintenance, and organization of the warehouse, including storage areas, equipment, and general workspaces. It covers routine, periodic, and deep cleaning procedures.
3. Responsibilities
- Warehouse Personnel: Perform daily and weekly cleaning tasks as per the schedule and report any issues or maintenance needs.
- Maintenance Team: Handle periodic deep cleaning, repair work, and maintenance of cleaning equipment.
- Warehouse Manager: Oversee cleaning schedules, ensure adequate supplies, and verify cleaning standards.
- Quality Assurance (QA): Conduct inspections to ensure compliance with GMP and maintain documentation of cleaning activities.
4. Accountability
The Warehouse Manager is accountable for ensuring that housekeeping procedures are followed consistently. The QA Manager is responsible for verifying that cleaning standards meet
regulatory and GMP requirements.
5. Procedure
5.1 Daily Cleaning Activities
- General Cleaning:
- Sweep floors, remove debris, and ensure all walkways are clear.
- Clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces such as door handles, light switches, and shared equipment.
- Empty waste bins and replace liners.
- Document daily cleaning activities in the Daily Cleaning Log (Annexure-1).
- Storage Areas:
- Inspect storage racks and shelves for dust accumulation and clean as needed.
- Ensure materials are stored in an organized manner, following FIFO/FEFO principles.
- Document storage area cleanliness in the Storage Area Cleaning Log (Annexure-2).
5.2 Weekly Cleaning Activities
- Equipment Cleaning:
- Wipe down and sanitize warehouse equipment such as forklifts, pallet jacks, and carts.
- Inspect equipment for wear and tear, and report any maintenance needs.
- Document equipment cleaning in the Equipment Cleaning Log (Annexure-3).
- Deep Cleaning of Floors:
- Mop warehouse floors using appropriate cleaning agents and ensure non-slip conditions.
- Pay special attention to corners and areas under storage racks.
- Document floor cleaning in the Floor Cleaning Log (Annexure-4).
5.3 Monthly and Periodic Cleaning Activities
- Deep Cleaning and Sanitization:
- Conduct a thorough cleaning of all warehouse areas, including walls, ceilings, and ventilation systems.
- Sanitize areas prone to contamination, such as temperature-controlled storage rooms and hazardous material areas.
- Document periodic cleaning in the Periodic Cleaning Log (Annexure-5).
- Pest Control:
- Coordinate with pest control services to inspect and treat the warehouse as needed.
- Ensure that pest control chemicals do not come into contact with raw materials.
- Document pest control activities in the Pest Control Log (Annexure-6).
5.4 Waste Management Procedures
- Waste Segregation:
- Segregate waste into general, recyclable, and hazardous categories.
- Label waste bins clearly and ensure proper disposal as per local regulations.
- Document waste management in the Waste Disposal Log (Annexure-7).
- Hazardous Waste Handling:
- Store hazardous waste in designated areas with appropriate signage.
- Coordinate with licensed waste disposal services for safe removal.
- Document hazardous waste handling in the Hazardous Waste Log (Annexure-8).
5.5 Safety and Compliance Measures
- Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE):
- Ensure all personnel use appropriate PPE such as gloves, masks, and safety goggles during cleaning.
- Maintain a stock of cleaning supplies and PPE at all times.
- Document PPE usage in the PPE Compliance Log (Annexure-9).
- Inspection and Verification:
- QA will conduct routine inspections to verify adherence to cleaning schedules and standards.
- Non-compliance will be addressed immediately with corrective actions.
- Document inspection findings in the Inspection Log (Annexure-10).
6. Abbreviations
- SOP: Standard Operating Procedure
- GMP: Good Manufacturing Practice
- QA: Quality Assurance
- PPE: Personal Protective Equipment
- FIFO: First-In-First-Out
- FEFO: First-Expired-First-Out
7. Documents
- Daily Cleaning Log (Annexure-1)
- Storage Area Cleaning Log (Annexure-2)
- Equipment Cleaning Log (Annexure-3)
- Floor Cleaning Log (Annexure-4)
- Periodic Cleaning Log (Annexure-5)
- Pest Control Log (Annexure-6)
- Waste Disposal Log (Annexure-7)
- Hazardous Waste Log (Annexure-8)
- PPE Compliance Log (Annexure-9)
- Inspection Log (Annexure-10)
8. References
- 21 CFR Part 211 – Current Good Manufacturing Practice for Finished Pharmaceuticals
- OSHA Warehouse Safety and Cleaning Standards (29 CFR 1910)
- WHO Guidelines for Pharmaceutical Storage and Cleaning Procedures
9. SOP Version
Version: 2.0
10. Approval Section
| Prepared By | Checked By | Approved By | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signature | |||
| Date | |||
| Name | |||
| Designation | |||
| Department |
Annexure-1: Daily Cleaning Log
| Date | Area Cleaned | Cleaning Activities Performed | Cleaned By | Verified By |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17/03/2025 | Main Warehouse Floor | Sweeping, mopping, waste disposal | Ravi Kumar | Neha Verma |
| 17/03/2025 | Receiving Area | Dusting, disinfecting high-touch surfaces | Amit Joshi | Priya Singh |
Annexure-2: Storage Area Cleaning Log
| Date | Storage Area | Cleaning Method | Issues Found | Corrective Actions | Cleaned By |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17/03/2025 | Rack A1 | Dusting, disinfecting shelves | Minor dust accumulation | Cleaned thoroughly | Ravi Kumar |
| 17/03/2025 | Rack B2 | Vacuum cleaning, surface wiping | No issues | N/A | Amit Joshi |
Annexure-3: Equipment Cleaning Log
| Date | Equipment Name | Cleaning Method | Cleaned By | Verified By |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17/03/2025 | Forklift #1 | Wiped down, sanitized controls | Ravi Kumar | Neha Verma |
| 17/03/2025 | Pallet Jack #3 | Surface cleaning, oil check | Amit Joshi | Priya Singh |
Annexure-4: Floor Cleaning Log
| Date | Area | Cleaning Method | Slip Hazards Identified | Corrective Actions | Cleaned By |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17/03/2025 | Loading Dock | Mopping with anti-slip solution | Yes | Applied additional anti-slip solution | Ravi Kumar |
| 17/03/2025 | Main Storage Area | Dry mopping, dust removal | No | N/A | Amit Joshi |
Annexure-5: Periodic Cleaning Log
| Date | Area Cleaned | Cleaning Frequency | Cleaning Activities | Cleaned By | Verified By |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/03/2025 | Ventilation System | Monthly | Dust removal, filter change | Maintenance Team | Neha Verma |
| 01/03/2025 | Temperature-Controlled Storage | Quarterly | Deep sanitization | Ravi Kumar | Priya Singh |
Annexure-6: Pest Control Log
| Date | Pest Control Activity | Area Treated | Service Provider | Issues Found | Corrective Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05/03/2025 | Rodent Inspection | Warehouse A | Safe Pest Control Services | Rodent droppings found | Traps installed, entry points sealed |
| 05/03/2025 | Insect Fumigation | Storage Room B2 | EcoSafe Solutions | No issues | N/A |
Annexure-7: Waste Disposal Log
| Date | Type of Waste | Quantity | Disposal Method | Disposed By | Verified By |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17/03/2025 | General Waste | 50 kg | Regular collection | Ravi Kumar | Neha Verma |
| 17/03/2025 | Recyclable Materials | 20 kg | Recycling bin collection | Amit Joshi | Priya Singh |
Annexure-8: Hazardous Waste Log
| Date | Type of Hazardous Waste | Quantity | Storage Location | Disposed By | Disposal Method |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17/03/2025 | Chemical Solvents | 10 L | Hazardous Storage Area C | Ravi Kumar | Licensed hazardous waste collector |
| 17/03/2025 | Expired Cleaning Agents | 5 L | Hazardous Storage Area B2 | Amit Joshi | Neutralized and disposed safely |
Annexure-9: PPE Compliance Log
| Date | Employee Name | Task Performed | PPE Used | Compliance Status | Verified By |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17/03/2025 | Ravi Kumar | Floor Cleaning | Gloves, Mask | Compliant | Neha Verma |
| 17/03/2025 | Amit Joshi | Equipment Cleaning | Gloves, Safety Goggles | Compliant | Priya Singh |
Annexure-10: Inspection Log
| Date | Area Inspected | Inspection Criteria | Issues Found | Corrective Actions Taken | Inspected By |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17/03/2025 | Main Warehouse | Cleanliness, organization | Dust on shelves | Immediate cleaning performed | Neha Verma |
| 17/03/2025 | Loading Dock | Slip hazards, waste disposal | No issues found | N/A | Priya Singh |
Revision History:
| Revision Date | Revision No. | Revision Details | Reason for Revision | Approved By |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01/01/2024 | 1.0 | Initial Version | New SOP Implementation | QA Head |
| 17/03/2025 | 2.0 | Updated cleaning and inspection protocols | To meet revised GMP and safety guidelines | QA Head |