Food manufacturing occupational safety guide
In food manufacturing, hygiene zones, processes and cleaning regimes jointly determine the equipment required.
In short
In food production the hygiene zone, the process and the cleaning regime together define the equipment. Wet floors call for slip-resistant footwear, knife work for cut-resistant gloves, chilled areas for layered clothing. On top of that, every material must be food-contact safe and able to survive industrial laundering.
Where a good specification begins
What should be clarified first?
Production, packing, cold-room and cleaning roles involve different temperatures, moisture levels and mechanical and chemical risks. Alongside clothing and PPE, cleanability, colour coding and movement between zones must form part of the procurement specification.
Typical risk areas
- Wet and slippery floors
- Knives and sharp ingredients
- Cold working environments
- Cleaning agents and disinfectants
Show us the work for a more precise quotation
A site photo or short video often explains more than a generic product list. It reveals the floor, working height, machinery and equipment worn together.
- Where does the work happen?
- Indoors, outdoors, in a wet zone, around vehicle traffic or at height.
- How long is it worn?
- For a full shift, a short intervention or only one defined work phase.
- What is worn with it?
- Helmet, eyewear, earmuffs, respirator and harness must remain comfortable and compatible together.
Which starting kit suits each role?
These are procurement starting points, not automatic PPE requirements.
| Role | Procurement starting point |
|---|---|
| Preparation and processing | Cleanable clothing, task-specific hand protection and footwear with suitable grip. |
| Packing | Gloves that support dexterity, lightweight clothing and cut protection where required. |
| Cold room and freezer | Layered cold protection, gloves and footwear suitable for low temperatures. |
| Hygiene cleaning | Chemically suitable gloves, eye and body protection and cleanable footwear. |
Expert product selection
Recommended products for your first shortlist
Start with relevant, easy-to-compare products selected for this working environment. Prices, availability and technical data are kept up to date.
Building blocks for the complete solution
Which markings are useful starting filters?
A standard marking can narrow the live product range quickly, but it does not by itself prove that a product is suitable for a particular role.
- EN ISO 374-1
- Requirements for gloves protecting against dangerous chemicals. The type and chemical codes do not replace permeation data for the actual substance, concentration and contact time.
- Filter products by this marking
- EN ISO 374-5
- Requirements for gloves protecting against micro-organisms. Virus protection may be assumed only where the additional virus marking is present.
- Filter products by this marking
- EN ISO 20345
- Basic and additional requirements for general-purpose safety footwear. Match the protection class and optional markings to the floor, task and exposure.
- Filter products by this marking
- EN 388
- Performance tests for protective gloves against mechanical risks. Interpret each level against the actual abrasion, cut, tear and puncture hazards.
- Filter products by this marking
Always compare the results with the documented risk assessment, the required performance level and the product’s current EU declaration of conformity.
Plan in three layers
- 1. Core role kit
- Clothing, footwear and basic PPE used on every shift, with size runs and defined replacement triggers.
- 2. Task module
- Additional protection and checks issued for less frequent but higher-risk operations.
- 3. Reordering plan
- Minimum stock, size distribution, seasonality, inspections and documented approval points.
The detailed knowledge behind the decision
Hand protection
Protective glove selection guide
Protective glove standards and markings explained: mechanical and chemical risks, cut resistance, materials, coatings, grip and sizing.
Read more →Seasonal planning
Winter PPE procurement: what to order before the season
A buyer’s guide to cold protection under EN 342 and EN 511, high visibility, slip prevention and an early-autumn checklist for complete size availability.
Read more →Implementation
Wear trials: introduce new PPE with employee confidence
A five-step wear trial, from sample selection and a representative test group to feedback, documented decisions and successful implementation.
Read more →Procurement checklist
Before requesting a quote
Better input produces more comparable quotations, a more accurate size run and fewer later changes.
- 01 Define hygiene zones and colour codes
- 02 Verify laundering and disinfection processes
- 03 Trial footwear on the actual floor surface
- 04 Set glove replacement and replenishment by process
Frequently asked questions
The questions that come up most often during procurement - the ones the rest of this article does not cover.
Which gloves are needed for knife work?
Cut-resistant gloves, with the level shown by the EN 388 marking. Meat cutting often justifies chain-mail gloves. Crucially, the glove must be suitable for food contact - mechanical protection alone does not satisfy food safety requirements.
What makes footwear slip-resistant on wet floors?
The tread pattern and the sole compound decide, and the standard slip-resistance marking (SRA/SRB/SRC) shows which surface it was tested on. On greasy, wet kitchen floors SRC is the reference - but even the best sole wears down, so check the tread regularly.
How should movement between chilled and warm areas be handled?
By layering. A one-piece cold-store garment is unbearable in the warm part of the plant, so people take it off and do not put it back on. Two or three thinner layers, one of which can be removed on the way out, work better in practice.
Professional and legal framework
This page supports decision-making. Specific obligations must always be established from current legislation, the local risk assessment and the documentation for the selected product.
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Hungarian Act XCIII of 1993 on Occupational Safety
The Hungarian legal framework for risk assessment, prevention and employer responsibility.
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Regulation (EU) 2016/425 on personal protective equipment
Essential requirements and conformity assessment for PPE placed on the EU market.
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Hungarian Decree 65/1999 (XII. 22.) EüM on the use of PPE at work
Direct Hungarian requirements for workplace selection, compatibility, use, training and inspection.
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EU-OSHA OiRA risk-assessment tools
A step-by-step risk-assessment framework, particularly useful for micro and small enterprises.
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Hungarian Decree 3/2002 (II. 8.) SZCSM-EüM on minimum workplace safety requirements
The comprehensive Hungarian framework for the design, operation and risk control of fixed workplaces.
Important professional note
The product groups and combinations shown are starting points. They do not replace the employer’s documented risk assessment, PPE issue rules, the manufacturer’s instructions or the decision of a competent occupational safety professional. Always verify markings, compatibility and protective performance in the current documentation for the selected product.
Request a quotation assembled by role
Tell us the headcount, roles, current problem and required deadline. We will help plan trial items, size runs, decoration and replenishment.