Food Production And Safety Requirements -- How Everyone Stays Safe

Working with food, particularly those that are consumed by someone else, requires the utmost attention to safety.In the food production industry, everyone needs to use disposable shirt protection, hearing and head protection, chainmail, and other safety items to prevent injuries.These precautions also prevent contamination and keep others from getting sick.Here are some of the items used in the food industry to keep everyone safe from harm.

Disposable Shirt Protection And Clothing

Standard disposable shirt protection and safety garments play two important roles in the food production industry.

One of the first ways protective clothing helps keep everyone safe is by preventing lint, hair, and other items that may be on a shirt from falling into the food.Secondly, disposable shirt protection keeps the food from getting on your own clothing.This helps keep the mess contained so that it does not contaminate other areas outside of the work area.

Head And Hair Covers

When working with food items that someone else will consume, you should always keep your hair and head covered with either a mesh-like hairnet or a paper-like hat.

This prevents hair and dander from falling into the food.Employees working in a commercial plant may also have to wear a hardhat.This will protect them if something would happen to fall off the conveyor belts that carry the food down the line.

Metal Armor

In processing jobs that require the use of knives, safety rules generally require them to wear special safety 'armor' often called chainmail to protect against cuts and other knife injuries.

Chainmail is a tight metal mesh that goes over your body like a shirt and across the tops of your legs.The mesh is designed to keep the knife from going through and making contact with your skin.For added protection, workers may also wear metal gloves over their regular gloves to protect their hands.

Hand Protection

When working with food, gloves made from materials such as plastic or latex are a must.

This helps minimize the chance of contaminating other foods or spreading germs and diseases to other surfaces.You need to change them each time you move from one type of food to the next.In a restaurant, you may need to change them between meals.Manufacturing plants may simply require you to change them at each break or several set times throughout the day.

Footwear

All workers need to wear the proper shoes when working in the food industry.

These may or may not have steel toes, but the most important thing is that they cover your entire foot.In some situations such as in hospitals and production plants, you may also be asked to have a designated pair that are only used in the workplace, or you may be required to use shoe covers while in the work area.This keeps outside dirt from entering the food prep area and protects your feet if you would drop a knife or spill a hot liquid.

Protection For Your Ears

Traditional restaurants and smaller businesses in the food industry will likely not require hearing protection.

Industrial production plants, however, use large machines to make production faster and easier.These machines often combine to increase the noise in the workplace to an unhealthy level.These situations require workers to wear earmuffs or earplugs at all times.

Businesses in the food industry keep the safety of the consumer and their employees in the forefront of their minds at all times, Disposable shirt protection and other required safety gear play a large part in achieving this goal.Unfortunately, these items aren't enough on their own -- everyone needs adequate training and information to ensure everyone from the workers in the plant to the end consumer stays safe while enjoying a quality product.

About the Author

Christine O'Kelly is an author for MPE Safety Apparel, leading supplier of Tyvek shirt protection.

In addition to offering disposable shirt products, they offer a full line of recycled protective clothing including biohazard suits, pants, and shoe covers.

Relaited Links:

• So You Are Thinking Of Joining B-School?
• Currency Trading and the Market Functions
• Expand Recruiting for Better Hiring