In the food service industry, workers are at risk of exposure to harsh and toxic cleaning chemicals which then become contamination risks when serving food.
Having the right PPE for the food industry creates a fence between employees and the food that is being served to the customer. While taking precautions such as washing hands in between tasks is important, servers should also use gloves to ensure the safety of customers and colleagues.
The Role of PPE in Food Safety
Reduced Risk of Injuries - Food industry staff are exposed to injury risks caused by sharp objects and high temperatures. Biochemical hazards are also common in the food industry. The use of PPE in the food industry protects workers from injuries such as bruises, cuts, burns, fractures, amputations, and physiological disorders.
Complements Worker Safety - The use of Personal Protective Equipment or PPE in the food industry can save workers from harm and long term injuries. Because of this, it also reduces the secondary risks of expensive healthcare, reduced earning potential and financial losses for the workers. In short, it offers workers a sense of security in the food industry.
Protecting the Customers - If a restaurant or food service provider is found to be negligent regarding the safe preparation and provision of food to their customers, they can face penalties that may ultimately result in the closure of the premises.
Business owners or managers must provide staff with adequate PPE to prevent contamination and the spread of foodborne illnesses.
Types of PPE Used in the Food Industry:
Every workplace demands different kinds of PPE depending on the work that is being done, as well as the nature of the business and employees. Some of the most important personal protective equipment items used in the food industry are as follows:
One of the most common reasons for food contamination is touching the food with bare hands. It is the easiest way of spreading bacteria and germs to food. For this reason, anyone in contact with food should always wear appropriate hand protection.
The use of facemasks or face shields is important as it helps prevents the inhalation of germs and harmful chemicals in the working area. It also prevents the breath of the staff from reaching the food directly, which can be a cause of contamination.
Hearing protection is one of the major needs of not only the food industry but most industries, as exposure to excessive noise can cause hearing damage that can irreparable. If the working area is exposed to loud noise the employees should be required to wear hearing protection such as earplugs or earmuffs.
Hand sanitiser is not restricted to any area but it needs to be used responsibly, as most of the sanitisers on the market are alcohol based which means they are flammable and generally not recommended in the kitchen due to the risk of fire.
Choosing the right PPE should be done carefully by experienced management professionals. However, if you need help in choosing the right PPE for your workers, the above tips combined with worker safety training and consultation can help you.
Southland Supply Group provides high-quality PPE for a range of industries, including food and hospitality. We stock a variety of gloves, face shields, face masks, hand sanitisers, and more. Browse our range online today.
