At Butcher’s Equipment Warehouse, we’re all too aware of the potential hazards surrounding working with butchery equipment. That’s exactly why we stock a range of high-quality protective workwear alongside our premium chef’s knife sets and butcher machinery, to encourage and promote safe workplace practices. It’s not too difficult to work out why PPE is so vital, as it protects staff from illness and injury. However, one of the most crucial things to bear in mind is to make sure you’re getting exactly the right PPE that’s suited to the job. 

Why is PPE so important for butchery?

PPE, or personal protective equipment, is a legal requirement in the UK food industry and is used in butchery for many reasons. It keeps people safe and minimises any hazards when handling cuts of meat and sharp tools. It also helps to maintain a sanitary environment, which is paramount when working with food. It prevents cross-contamination between cuts of meat and people.

PPE every butcher needs

Like any other industry that handles sharp equipment and heavy machinery that can cause significant injuries, butchers must wear PPE to ensure safety. The main items of PPE that every butcher needs to wear include protective aprons such as chainmail and aluminium aprons, chainmail gloves, and cut-resistant gloves. Wearing these items helps your team to manage workplace risks and significantly lowers the likelihood of any injuries, especially when staff members are constantly working around and with sharp tools such as butchery knives, meat cleavers and machinery. Our butchery PPE combines durability while maintaining flexibility of movement to ensure protection and usability for a seamless yet safe experience.

All PPE should be maintained to a high standard to ensure an optimum level of safety. For example, if there are any holes or missing links in the chainmail gloves or apron, they should be replaced as soon as possible as they can leave the wearer vulnerable to potential injuries, especially when working with knives in processes like deboning. 

Where appropriate, butchers should wear protective masks, glasses and hair nets. All fastenings on PPE should also be kept in top condition so the chance of them coming undone is slim to none. For example, if a hairnet were to slip off and hair was to get into the product, not only would that be embarrassing for the butcher, but it wouldn’t be a pleasant experience for the customer. Finding hair in freshly bought produce would be enough to put anyone off and potentially damage a shop’s reputation for life. Hair can potentially spread bacteria to food as it can contain a variety of pathogens, including Staphylococcus bacteria. With the average amount of hair humans shed within 50-100 hairs daily, all shop personnel must nullify this potential hazard through the appropriate PPE.

So, that’s a brief overview of why PPE is so important in the butchery industry! At Butchers Equipment Warehouse, we understand the importance and sense of pride that goes with delivering top-notch products and services to your valued customers. And we also know that to do that, you require reliable PPE that provides you with the protection and peace of mind you need to get the job done correctly and safely.

If you’re looking for quality PPE, you’re in exactly the right place! Here at Butchers Equipment Warehouse, we have a range of specialised protective workwear to help you and your staff remain safe throughout all stages of meat preparation. If you could use our team's help or have any questions regarding our PPE, give us a call on 01254 427761, and we’ll be happy to assist you!