Safety and compliance in processing
Credit: All Seasons Uniforms
The role of specialised workwear is key to the dairy industry’s requirements, Nick Warrick, sales manager at All Seasons Uniforms says.
The dairy industry is subject to stringent health safety regulations designed to protect both consumers and workers. Comprehensive safety protocols identify and prevent problems before they arise, helping industry players keep people safe, protect their reputations, and avoid prosecution.
As part of such mitigation efforts, dairy companies should implement effective process monitoring – the cornerstone of food safety within the industry. So, what processes require consistent oversight? Let’s look at the role of specialised workwear in upholding the industry’s high standards.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is mandatory across a range of work environments – especially those involving heavy machinery, environmental hazards, and food preparation. In the dairy industry, specialised workwear such as gloves, coveralls, aprons, slip-resistant footwear, and heat-resistant clothing, ensure workers stay safe while mitigating the risks of food contamination. These measures highlight the indispensable role of PPE in maintaining health and safety standards across diverse work settings.
Risks and hazards
Before establishing workwear protocols, dairy manufacturers must consider the full range of risks and hazards associated with processing, including:
- Worker exposure to biohazards, such as bacteria and other microorganisms. Improper cleaning and use of workwear could also lead to product contamination that endangers consumers.
- Physical hazards, including hot surfaces and heavy machinery. Robust, heat-proof clothing could help mitigate the risk of injury to workers.
- Exposure to noisy equipment that could lead to hearing damage in the long term. Hearing protection will mitigate this risk to workers.
- Slips and trips caused by milk spills. Slip-proof footwear represents a simple and effective solution to this problem.
- Exposure to chemical hazards, including sanitizers and dangerous cleaning agents that may lead to respiratory illnesses and other health problems. Face masks and other protective equipment may help to mitigate such risks.
- Product contamination by hair and other foreign objects. Hair nets and other coverings can prevent this problem and ensure manufacturers remain compliant with safety standards.
Failure to enforce regulations laid out by national, state or federal agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could result in a significant fine, reputational damage, or even the shutting down of operations. For example, recent FDA inspection guidance requires inspectors to assess manufacturers’ “gowning procedures,” clothing storage processes before and after issuance, hair protection procedures, and whether employees change into sanitised clothing before coming into contact with dairy products.
Other regulations to which dairy manufacturers will need to adhere in the US and internationally, include those set out by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). By staying on top of guidance and regularly reviewing their health and safety protocols, dairy manufacturers can ensure customers and workers always stay safe.
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