Postharvest Deviation Containment, Facts and Process Timeline
A postharvest deviation investigation begins by protecting material and evidence. Technician II establishes lot identity, location, timeline, product condition, room/process history and what was actually observed before deciding what caused the condition or what should happen to the product.
Learning objectives
- LO-LH-TECH2-006-01
- LO-LH-TECH2-006-06
Key vocabulary
A controlled action that prevents uncertain or potentially affected material from being mixed, moved or released while evidence is evaluated.
The documented observations, measurements, identities and events known before causal interpretation.
A chronological record connecting process events, movements, measurements and observations.
Contain first when identity or condition is uncertain
Protect affected or potentially affected material using the authorized hold/segregation process. Do not blend uncertain material into normal product to make the exception disappear.
Build the chronology before the cause story
Record harvest/transfer times, rack or container identity, room history, product observations, sampling and movements. Facts that contradict the leading hypothesis remain part of the record.
Do not convert containment into disposition
Holding material protects evidence and product while the authorized role evaluates release, rework, destruction or other disposition. Technician II does not gain disposition authority from recognizing the deviation.
Worked examples
- A suspect rack is placed on hold and identified without moving neighboring unaffected racks into the same status until genealogy and process evidence are checked.
- An unusual product condition is documented with time, position and original measurements before staff speculate about a room excursion.
Common mistakes
- Declaring the entire facility affected before tracing scope.
- Blending questionable material into normal lots.
- Writing the cause into the record before the facts are assembled.
- Treating a hold as authorization to dispose product.
Practical application
Create a deviation fact sheet containing lot/rack identity, location, process timeline, product observations, room data, current containment and a separate hypotheses section.
Lesson summary
Containment protects product and evidence; chronology and facts come before causal and disposition conclusions.