La. Admin. Code tit. 51 § VII-707

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 12, December 20, 2024

Section VII-707 - Bulk Milk Tank Truck Operator/Sampler

A. A bulk milk tank truck operator/sampler is a person who collects official raw milk samples and may transport raw milk from dairy farms to milk plants, receiving stations, transfer stations or other food processing plants.

B. Milk tank truck and milk tank transport operators who are not licensed as bulk milk tank truck operator/samplers shall not perform any of the duties of a bulk milk tank truck operator/sampler that directly involves the collection of official samples or measuring of milk for official records.

C. Milk tank truck operators who are not bulk milk tank truck operator/samplers and perform any of the duties of a bulk milk tank truck operator/sampler that do not involve the collection of samples or measuring of milk shall conform with the requirements for such duties contained in this Part.

D. Bulk milk tank truck operator/samplers shall obtain a permit to operate a bulk milk pickup tank truck and collect official samples of raw milk prior to the performance of these duties.

E. The bulk milk tank truck operator/sampler must be instructed in proper procedures of milk pick up and sample collection prior to permit application.

F. The bulk milk tank truck operator/sampler shall obtain a passing score on a test administered by the state health officer and demonstrate his ability to perform the required milk pick up and sampling duties to the state health officer prior to being issued a permit.

G. Each bulk milk tank truck operator/sampler shall attend one of the bulk milk pickup tanker operator/sampler seminars conducted biannually by the state health officer and receive a passing score on the test administered as part of the seminar. Failure to attend the required seminar or failure to achieve a passing score on the test shall result in suspension of his/her permit.

H. The examination shall be composed of a minimum of 20 questions broken down into the following areas:

1. six questions relating to sanitation and personal cleanliness;

2. six questions relating to sampling and weighing procedures;

3. four questions relating to equipment (including proper use, care, cleaning, etc); and

4. four questions relating to proper record keeping requirements.

I. Candidates failing the exam (a score of less than 70 percent) shall be denied permits or licenses until such time as they achieve a passing score.

J. The bulk milk hauler/sampler shall insure that he/she has the following equipment at all times while engaged in picking up and hauling milk:

1. sample rack and compartment to hold all samples collected;

2. refrigerant to hold temperature of milk samples between 0 ° - 4.4 ° C (32 ° - 40 ° F);

3. sample dipper or other sampling devices of sanitary design approved by the state health officer;

4. sterile sample bags, tubes or bottles; stored properly;

5. calibrated pocket thermometer; certified for accuracy every six months; accuracy K 1 ° C (2 ° F);

6. approved sanitizing agent and sample dipper container;

7. watch for timing milk agitation; and

8. appropriate sanitizer test kit.

K. Specific procedures that shall be performed by each milk tank truck operator/sampler:

1. The bulk milk hauler/sampler shall insure that all outer openings of the milk tank truck are properly sealed with numbered seals at all times the milk tank truck is not being loaded, unloaded or under his/her immediate supervision; padlocks may be used on the valve, pump and sample compartments.

2. The bulk milk hauler/sampler shall check the integrity of all seals and padlocks upon arrival at the first point at which the milk tank truck is to be loaded.

3. If any seal must be broken in order to load the truck, the bulk milk tank truck operator/sampler shall record the number of the seal(s) broken on the cleaning and sanitizing tag or manifest, this record may be referred to as a "broken seal record". The broken seal shall be placed in a secure place in the milk tank truck so that it can be presented to the milk receiver/sampler at the unloading point.

4. If at any time should the bulk milk tank truck operator/sampler find that any numbered seal or padlock securing the outer openings of the milk tank truck has been removed without his/her permission, he/she shall immediately notify the state health officer and then follow instructions given by the state health officer.

L. The specific procedures used by an individual bulk milk tank truck operator must be such that they preclude contamination of the milk and milk contact surfaces. The individual bulk milk tank truck operator shall insure the accuracy of all measurements taken, that samples collected are representative of the product sampled and that records and reports are accurate and complete.

M. The following are examples of acceptable procedures used in the measurement, sampling and pick up of milk from farm bulk tanks by the bulk milk tank truck operator/sampler:

1. he/she shall practice good hygiene, shall maintain a neat and clean appearance and not use tobacco in the milk house;

2. wash hands thoroughly and dry with a clean single service towel or acceptable air dryer immediately prior to measuring and sampling the milk;

3. examine the milk by sight and smell for any off odor or any other abnormalities that would classify the milk as not being acceptable. Reject if necessary;

4. measure the milk prior to agitation. If the agitator is running upon arrival at the milk house, the measurement shall be taken only after the surface of the milk has became quiescent;

5. carefully insert the measuring rod, after it has been wiped dry with a single service towel, into the tank. Repeat this procedure until two identical measurements are taken. Record measurements on the farm weight ticket;

6. do not contaminate the milk during measurement;

7. agitate the milk a sufficient time to obtain a homogeneous blend. Tanks with a capacity of less than 1,500 gallons, five minutes, and more than 1,500 gallons, 10 minutes;

8. while the milk is being agitated, insert thermometer into milk and determine temperature of the milk. Rinse thermometer and place it into holder. Record temperature;

9. while the tank is being agitated, bring the sample container, dipper, dipper container or single service sampling tubes and sanitizing agent for the outlet valve into the milk house. Remove the cap from the tank outlet valve and examine for milk deposits or foreign matter and then sanitize if necessary. Protect the hose cap from contamination when removing it from the transfer hose and during storage;

10. collect samples only after the milk has been properly agitated. Remove the dipper or sampling device from the sanitizing solution or sterile container and rinse at least twice in the milk;

11. collect a representative sample or samples from the bulk tank. When transferring milk from the sampling equipment, caution should be used to assure that no milk is spilled into the tank. Do not fill the sampling container more than - full. Close the cover on the sample container;

12. rinse the dipper and place in its carrying container;

13. close the cover or lid of the bulk tank;

14. identify samples at the point of collection with the producer's number annotated on the sample container;

15. take a temperature control sample at the first stop of each load. This sample must be labeled with time, date, temperature, producer and bulk milk tank truck operator/sampler identification;

16. place the sample or samples immediately into the sample storage case;

17. record milk temperature, time, date of pick up and bulk milk tank truck operator/sampler identification on the farm weight ticket. He/she shall check the accuracy of the thermometer on each bulk tank monthly and record results on document that remains in the farm. Pocket thermometer must be sanitized before use;

18. once the measurement and sampling procedures are completed, with the agitator still running, open the outlet valve and start the pump. Turn off the agitator when the level of milk is below the level that will cause over agitation;

19. when the milk has been removed from the tank, disconnect the transfer hose from the outlet valve and cap the hose;

20. observe the inside surfaces of the bulk tank for foreign matter or extraneous material and record any objectionable observations on the farm weight ticket;

21. with the outlet valve open, thoroughly rinse the entire inside surface of the tank with warm water;

22. samples shall be cooled to and held between 0 E C (32 E F) and 4.4 E C (40 E F) during transit to the laboratory;

23. means shall be provided to properly protect the samples in the sample case. Keep refrigerant at an acceptable level;

24. racks must be provided so that the samples are properly cooled in an ice bath and are not submerged in the coolant; and,

25. adequate insulation of the sample container box or ice chest shall be provided to maintain the proper temperature of the samples.

N. At least one sample of raw milk collected by the bulk milk tank operator/sampler from each farm bulk milk tank represented on each load shall accompany the load to the dairy plant at which it will be unloaded.

O. The bulk milk tank truck operator/sampler shall follow the practices and procedures described in Appendix B, Milk Sampling, Hauling and Transportation of the PMO as well as those contained in this Part.

P. An on-site evaluation of the bulk milk tank truck operator/sampler's techniques should be made by the state health officer at least once each 24 months.

La. Admin. Code tit. 51, § VII-707

Promulgated by the Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, LR 37:2668 (September 2011).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with the provisions of R.S. 40:4(A)(1)(a). Also see R.S. 40:5(2)(3)(5)(7)(15)(17) and R.S. 40:922.