Sharp-edged tools, material and surfaces; temperature extremes; grease; bacteria and the harsh solutions and chemicals used to clean and sanitize work surfaces. These are only a few of the hazards workers in a food-processing environment are facing. The number of hand injuries in the industry is quite high, with musculoskeletal disorders due to repetitive hand and wrist exertions (often in cold temperatures) the number one occupational risk. Appropriate hand protection is, in other words, an absolute must. But unlike in most other industries, safety hazards in the food sector go beyond the protection of employees. With safe food being a rising concern these days, the food industry is getting increasingly regulated. So food products, too, have to be protected.

Avoid food contamination
Quite a while back, the European Union launched its first regulations to protect food products from contamination by "materials intended to come into contact with food". Commonly described as "food packaging legislation", work gloves reside under the very same directive. In spite of regular revisions, the basic principle of the regulation remains unchanged: as chemicals from plastics packaging or glove materials might migrate with food ingredients, thereby contaminating the food, they have to be controlled tightly.

Pioneering approach
The above principle was neglected in the food industry for many years: it was not until the end of the 90s that food legislation started to play a role in the selection of gloves. "At that time, we noticed that there was ample space for enhanced hand protection among food processing workers and decided to target the sector," Ivan Guinard, food expert at Ansell, recalled. "So we communicated extensively with industry insiders to gauge their requirements and we tried to gain an insight into food legislation. This approach revolutionized the sector, as never before had any glove manufacturer developed a targeted solution for the industry that took into account the strict legislation."

proFood® and much more besides
The result of Ansell's commitment was a brand-new set of dedicated gloves for workers in food processing companies: Ansell's proFood® range. The gloves were launched in 1999 with an innovative marketing campaign that not only presented the range but also sensitized food-processing companies about the guidelines they had to follow, thereby underlining Ansell's expertise in the field. Ever since then, Ansell has been leading the way in research, technical expertise and innovation for food-handling gloves. The proFood® range has since been expanded and complemented with other Ansell gloves that are food-compatible and in full compliance with the toughest standards on food contact and food hygiene.

The right glove for the right application
Today, Ansell provides a solution for every application. Its main concern is that every worker selects the right glove for the right application. Meat cutters performing boning and breakdown work with knives, for example, need extremely cut-resistant gloves, such as the proFood® Safe-Knit® or the new Vantage® proFood®. People handling slippery objects, like poultry, fish or red meat, might want the support of gloves with some extra grip. As it's not always simple to choose the right glove, in a sector with ever-changing regulations and a wide offering to choose from, Ansell gladly helps its distributors and end-users make the right choice and keeps them posted on food legislation. After all, by using the right gloves, both worker safety and productivity rises, while food safety is guaranteed. Three impressive benefits that no food processing company can neglect.