Personal Protective Equipment for the Commercial Food Industry

Most people appreciate advances in technology that enable easier access to nutritious food. Many of today’s comestibles are packaged to last for months, if not longer, making it possible for families to stock up on their favorite snacks and eat them when they wish. Those working behind the scenes face hazards and need to protect themselves from such. When packaging equipment malfunctions, it can injure the operator. In all cases, the employee needs to make sure that he or she is not contaminating the food source. Specific gear depends on the environment, but here are five pieces of PPE that the majority of food industry workers should use on the job.

Safety Glasses

Your eyes are the gateway to your brain. They’re also a very sensitive part of the body. This is part of the reason persons wear sunglasses during the day. In an industrial environment, packaging solutions may occasionally throw objects or kick back during production. This could be due to an action on the part of a fellow worker or an issue with the equipment itself. In fact, federal regulations mandate that most such workplaces require safety glasses.

Hair Nets

Human hair often comes loose and falls off when persons least expect it. Hair’s thinness makes it difficult to notice, even for those with longer strands. This makes hair nets a vital piece of equipment in the food service environment. The FDA certainly wouldn’t accept products containing human hair, and consumers would likely be distrusting of nuts, dried fruits or anything else that appeared to be produced in an environment lacking quality control.

Gloves

All day long, workers use their hands to operate packaging solutions machinery. Some environments contain equipment with pointed edges, and sharp objects are generally required for food processing. In these cases, special gloves prevent abrasions for those who come in contact with cutters, slicers and hazardous surfaces. Employees who handle food may use a different type of gloves to protect the edibles from germs and body fluids.

Waterproof Outerwear

Some processing equipment utilizes water or other fluids. A pressure change or poor adjustment can cause a hose to spring loose, spraying the surrounding area uncontrollably. In other cases, a worker may be handling a wand to perform some sort of manual process or guide automated equipment. Many products that require artisanal production must be made by trained hands. In all such cases, waterproof vests and pants can help the employee to stay dry and work comfortably throughout his or her shift.

Non-Slip Shoes

Inevitably, floors can become slippery in environments where packaging solutions are present. The issue may not even have to do with liquids; in some cases the surface itself is made of material containing a low coefficient of friction. When it has been recently cleaned and polished, it can almost resemble a dance floor. In such cases, workers should not be allowed to enter the area without the appropriate footwear.

There is a lot that goes into the production of comestible goods. When employers take the lead in implementing the above and any other precautions they need for their workplace, it can result in a safer work environment as well as a more consistent food product for consumers.

James Anderson has only one mission: to help inform people. When he first started writing, he was fascinated with his ability to help people understand things.