How to control heat resistant gloves provided to employees?

Hi everyone,

we will provide heat resistant glove to the employee who work in the oven area? The issue with the gloves is laundering them and employee want to keep it in their locker so no one in the other shifts use it. my concern is how we could monitor to avoid contamination or we don't know how the employees will clean them. Does anyone have ideas on monitoring and risks to food safety?

I would appreciate your comments or what other risk should I consider. 

Thanks

Do they touch products with those gloves after taking them out of the oven? If not, what's a risk? Any possibility of getting disposable gloves?

Do they touch products with those gloves after taking them out of the oven? If not, what's a risk? Any possibility of getting disposable gloves?

we have rotatory rack oven, they do not touch the product, but they need the protective gloves to take in and out the racks.

Either washing in-house (washing machine & drier) or dispose after each shift, what else?

Either washing in-house (washing machine & drier) or dispose after each shift, what else?

Is it ok if they keep it in their locker? It is impossible to dispose it as it is expensive. I think we can not ask them to wash it by themselves. we do not have washing machine in the site.

Keeping in lockers is Ok I think as soon as they're locked. I don't see food safety risk if gloves don't come into contact with products as you're saying. Risk of contamination with dust/dirt/etc. is minimal if they're washed/dried properly and kept secure.

Hi Tresa,

Are you working with any particular certification standard?
May or may not be relevant to you, but I know that BRC doesn't like "production clothing" (i.e. not necessarily food contact) being stored in lockers with personal items, outdoor clothing etc.

You'll know the actual risk best as it's your site, but I'm a little wary as to how well washing will be controlled, and how potential cross-contact with other personal effects will be controlled, if the staff put these gloves in their own lockers. They may not be intended for direct food contact, but would you want them sat in a locker with someone's outdoor shoes that have e.g. mud, dog mess, possibly assorted unknown allergens etc on?

Who does the laundry for the rest of your production clothing at present? In the first instance I'd talk to them about whether you can include the gloves in this. Failing that, washing machines aren't all that costly so personally I'd be inclined to look at buying one for your site.

Nonetheless there are sites where staff are responsible for washing their own protective clothing. Makes me a bit nervous personally, but doesn't mean it can't work ;)

Obviously you'll need to provide a specific work instruction to staff as to how this should be undertaken (e.g. no other cloths in the same cycle, probably the hottest wash the gloves will permit etc), and some means of verifying that it's actually happening through e.g. spot checks. You'll also need to consider what you do in cases where staff may not have laundry facilities of their own.
 

Hi Tresa,

Are you working with any particular certification standard?
May or may not be relevant to you, but I know that BRC doesn't like "production clothing" (i.e. not necessarily food contact) being stored in lockers with personal items, outdoor clothing etc.

You'll know the actual risk best as it's your site, but I'm a little wary as to how well washing will be controlled, and how potential cross-contact with other personal effects will be controlled, if the staff put these gloves in their own lockers. They may not be intended for direct food contact, but would you want them sat in a locker with someone's outdoor shoes that have e.g. mud, dog mess, possibly assorted unknown allergens etc on?

 

Who does the laundry for the rest of your production clothing at present? In the first instance I'd talk to them about whether you can include the gloves in this. Failing that, washing machines aren't all that costly so personally I'd be inclined to look at buying one for your site.

 

Nonetheless there are sites where staff are responsible for washing their own protective clothing. Makes me a bit nervous personally, but doesn't mean it can't work ;)

Obviously you'll need to provide a specific work instruction to staff as to how this should be undertaken (e.g. no other cloths in the same cycle, probably the hottest wash the gloves will permit etc), and some means of verifying that it's actually happening through e.g. spot checks. You'll also need to consider what you do in cases where staff may not have laundry facilities of their own.
 

We certified SQF. You are right as it is hard to control the washing process with employee. Thank you for your comments, I will see if we can add to laundry procedure as we outsourced the laundry service for the lab coats.

Also, the staff are not allowed to keep food and shoes in the locker, they keep personal belonging in the locker (ex. purse, bag)