The food industry, just like other industries, makes use of personal protective equipment (PPE), in order to safeguard the health and physical integrity of its workers.
In particular, the workers most exposed to food industry occupational risks are those we find in companies which produce nutrients and food additives.
The risks posed by chemical additives
During risk assessment, one should always bear in mind that additives are chemical substances, employed both in food production for human consumption and in livestock feed.
They are used to improve both the qualitative and quantitative aspects of food. “Preservatives, colouring and flavouring “are words we have come to know well – we read them continuously on the product label of the food that comes to our table daily. These words all fall into the macro category of additives and, being chemical substances, they could place workers involved in their production at risk of toxicological contamination. The risks are even more meaningful when these substances are still volatile and potentially reagent, i.e. during processing. On the other hand, the consumers of food containing the same additives do not run practically any risks at all.
Which are the PPE used by food industry workers?
The PPE that are to be worn by workers in the food industry are not very different from those used in the pharmaceutical industry.
Both medicines and food additives, in fact, are composed by a very high percentage of reagents and chemical substances. Prolonged exposure to dust during the different stages of dispensing, weighing and mixing of food additives, is one of the main causes that lead to contracting serious and annoying respiratory diseases such as, for example, occupational asthma.
Respirators and face masks equipped with blower units, are among the essential PPE that food production technicians should always be provided with.
In fact, it is not enough to protect oneself from breathing food additive dust; but, in case of prolonged exposure, the use of powered respiratory protective devices is recommended.
Kasco srl produces respiratory protection devices for workers in the food industry. One of these, the Cleanspace 2 powered air purifying respirator features a lightweight and compact blower unit that provides fresh, clean air on demand.
Mar 6 2017
PPE for protection against risks in the food industry
In particular, the workers most exposed to food industry occupational risks are those we find in companies which produce nutrients and food additives.
The risks posed by chemical additives
During risk assessment, one should always bear in mind that additives are chemical substances, employed both in food production for human consumption and in livestock feed.
They are used to improve both the qualitative and quantitative aspects of food. “Preservatives, colouring and flavouring “are words we have come to know well – we read them continuously on the product label of the food that comes to our table daily. These words all fall into the macro category of additives and, being chemical substances, they could place workers involved in their production at risk of toxicological contamination. The risks are even more meaningful when these substances are still volatile and potentially reagent, i.e. during processing. On the other hand, the consumers of food containing the same additives do not run practically any risks at all.
Which are the PPE used by food industry workers?
The PPE that are to be worn by workers in the food industry are not very different from those used in the pharmaceutical industry.
Both medicines and food additives, in fact, are composed by a very high percentage of reagents and chemical substances. Prolonged exposure to dust during the different stages of dispensing, weighing and mixing of food additives, is one of the main causes that lead to contracting serious and annoying respiratory diseases such as, for example, occupational asthma.
Respirators and face masks equipped with blower units, are among the essential PPE that food production technicians should always be provided with.
In fact, it is not enough to protect oneself from breathing food additive dust; but, in case of prolonged exposure, the use of powered respiratory protective devices is recommended.
Kasco srl produces respiratory protection devices for workers in the food industry. One of these, the Cleanspace 2 powered air purifying respirator features a lightweight and compact blower unit that provides fresh, clean air on demand.
By Kasco Srl • Blog •