Food Safety PPE: A Guide to PPE Selection in Food Manufacturing

The proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE) in the food industry offers many benefits to customers, employees and the food products themselves. Here’s what you should consider when selecting PPE for this industry. 

The global food industry is heavily regulated, so the success of any food processing facility depends heavily on the safety of its workers and the cleanliness of the work environment. Any safety issue or food contamination could have significant health and financial consequences for a company. 

The proper selection and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is therefore vital. It helps to prevent food contamination or injuries to workers from such factors as cuts, burns or chemical exposure.

The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly raised the industry’s protection stakes. Food production and delivery has been an essential service over the past year. According to a recent Food Industry Executive article, industry players say their current biggest challenges include issues such as employee safety and productivity, and adapting their business strategy or operations in response to the pandemic.
 

Creating a safe work environment around food processing and production requires smart PPE selection. Here are some important considerations when selecting food safety PPE for food industry workers.

Read more: Fogged-Up Glasses: 5 Ways to Keep Eye Protection from Fogging While Wearing a Mask

No. 1: Types of Protective Materials

PPE used in the food production industry must both protect workers from cuts or mechanical injury and ensure food products do not become contaminated. These risks are particularly high in an industry where many operations are done by hand. Contamination can have a major impact on food quality and shelf life and can negatively impact a company’s reputation. 

Disabling workplace injuries—which may include cuts, burns or musculoskeletal disorders—cost U.S. businesses more than $59 billion annually. These injuries can lead to physical and emotional pain and suffering, loss of earning capacity or permanent health issues. Workers in the food manufacturing sector may face a higher likelihood of being injured on the job. Yet these accidents can be mitigated with fairly straightforward safety measures or increased employee training. 

To avoid contamination of food, DuPont recommends garments made from its Tyvek and Tychem materials, which the company says are “designed to help prevent contamination from dust particles, bacteria, spores and parasites carried on regular clothing or the human body.” For workers, DuPont’s Kevlar yarns provide protection against injuries such as knife cuts or from manufacturing machinery. 

Read more: Eye Protection Guide: Picking the Right Safety Glasses and Goggles

No. 2: Fit and Comfort

The protection offered by PPE is one of the last lines of defense against injury. To encourage employee use and compliance, garments and other protective products should fit well and be comfortable to wear. If safety equipment or apparel feels restrictive or interrupts a worker’s ability to do a job, it’s more likely to not be worn. 

As the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) notes, PPE that does not fit properly “can make the difference between being safely covered or dangerously exposed,” and it “may not provide the level of protection desired and may discourage employee use.”

Companies should also ensure they are promoting a workplace safety culture that focuses on the importance of PPE use, as well as providing ongoing training to boost employee compliance. OSHA recommends employees be trained to know at least the following:

• When PPE is necessary for food safety
• What PPE is necessary for food safety
• How to properly put on, take off, adjust and wear PPE
• The limitations of PPE
• Proper care, maintenance, useful life and disposal of PPE

You can read about creating a PPE assessment plan for your business here.

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No. 3: Types of PPE for Food Safety

Workers in the food industry require protection in a range of circumstances, from avoiding cuts to preventing food contamination. 

A range of good PPE options are out there for every circumstance. Here’s a rundown of some of the most common protective equipment:

• Cut protection: working with blades, knives or cutting machines can lead to serious injuries, making thick, steel mesh-lined gloves vital.
• Thermal protection: Extreme temperatures are commonplace in this industry, making thermal protection gear essential. This includes gloves, face shields and eye protection.
• Noise protection: PPE such as earmuffs or earplugs can help to mitigate the hearing damage caused by the loud noises that are often a feature of food processing facilities.
• Fall protection: Slips, trips and falls are common, due to the liquids used in food preparation and cleaning. Floor mats and slip-resistant shoes can help reduce these injuries.
• Chemical protection: disposable coveralls, face shields, eye protection and gloves can protect against chemicals, sprays and splatters. Chemical-resistant shoe covers can also help. Respiratory protection may also be required if toxic fumes are present.

Read more: Air Filtration: What Are MERV Ratings and How Do They Protect Your Workers?

How are you making sure your employees are safe at work? Share your thoughts in the comments below.