Why Gloves are a Critical Control Point for Food Safety

For food manufacturers, product integrity and consumer trust have never been more important. Having quality Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is essential for worker safety, and hand protection is among the most important categories, requiring elevation beyond simple compliance.

Hand protection is recognized as a Critical Control Point (CCP) within the HACCP plan and by focusing on hands and CCP, food processing managers can significantly reduce the potential for costly cross-contamination and recalls.

Elevating hand protection to a critical control point

Understanding hand protection as a CCP means accepting that glove selection or procedure impacts the risk of biological or physical contamination. To mitigate this risk, facilities must move beyond minimum regulatory standards and establish a full hand-hygiene program that includes proper hand washing, sanitization, and meticulous procedures for the selection and use of specialized gloves.

Precision in glove selection for food manufacturers and quality metrics

The effectiveness of a hand protection CCP hinges on selecting the appropriate glove for the specific process and contaminant.

1. Material suitability: Different processes within a facility present varying contaminants and hazards. A glove material suited for raw meat handling may be entirely inappropriate for ready-to-eat products, highlighting the necessity of task-specific gloves. Ansell provides diverse options, including disposable, cut-resistant, and multi-purpose gloves designed to protect against hazards like contamination, cuts, and abrasions.
2. Quality beyond measure: To control contamination, facility managers must scrutinize glove quality, often quantified by Acceptable Quality Limit (AQL) levels. A lower AQL indicates fewer defects, which is crucial for preventing microscopic failures that could compromise food safety. Furthermore, ongoing product innovation focuses on enhancing safety and efficiency. For example, advancements like AEROFIT™ Technology can provide a true second-skin fit for exceptional tactile control, ensuring that compliance doesn't hinder precision handling and overall productivity.

Advancing safety with sustainability

As food processors seek to increase yield and reduce their environmental impact, their PPE choices should reflect a commitment to sustainability. Ansell is dedicated to making a positive difference for both people and the planet.

The Ansell Earth initiative offers high-performance PPE that is designed with sustainability in mind, incorporating responsible materials and optimizing resource use. By prioritizing sustainable products that maintain the same trusted level of protection, manufacturers can align their hand protection CCP with their larger corporate social responsibility goals.

By proactively adopting a Critical Control Point mindset for hand protection, food manufacturers can move beyond basic compliance, ensuring enhanced worker protection, operational efficiency, and, most importantly, unparalleled food safety.

Nelson-Jameson & Ansell: Your partners in helping protect employees

Nelson-Jameson understands the unique challenges of food manufacturing and is dedicated to helping you create a safer, more compliant workplace. Reach out to get assistance in selecting the right Ansell PPE for your specific plant needs.

Related: Begin your AnsellGUARDIAN^® Hazard Analysis here >