Rank: Guest 
|
Posted By beenus
Good afternoon to you all. What is the requirement for washing work clothes please? The example I have is chef's whites. My understanding is that as it is issued by us as PPE (it falls into that category), then we are responsible to pay for the laundering of the clothing as well? We currently provide the whites but staff take the clothing home and wash them. I didn't think this was allowed? Would it come under food hygiene regs? Any help or advice you could give me (and the relevant regulation if they apply) would be much appreciated.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Swis
How would you identify, whehther clothing was cleaned properly?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By beenus
I just wanted to check that my thoughts were right, if we are providing PPE in the form of clothing, are we responsible for having it cleaned? I know that for handling certain substances like Lead, the clothing has to be sent away to be cleaned, does this apply to Chef's or those working in kitchens?
Thanks
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Phil Rose
Reg 7 of the PPE regs requires employers to ensure that PPE is maintained. The ACoP to the regs HSE L25 goes on to say that this includes cleaning and disinfection if necessary. The regs do not forbid employees from cleaning their own PPE but the employer must reimburse costs so as not to be in breach of HASAWA S9.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Phil Rose
Beenus
sorry, in answer to your second question, I don't see any problem with kitchen staff washing their own 'whites' and I am sure that a great many do. But see advice re costs above
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Ron Hunter
With reference to Regulation 3(2) of the PPE Regulations:
3(2) Regulations 4 to 12 shall not apply in respect of personal protective equipment which is—
(a) ordinary working clothes and uniforms which do not specifically protect the health and safety of the wearer.
Chef's uniform not PPE.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By West
Absolutely agree with Ron. I wouldnt classify cheifs clothes as a PPE. This is just a uniform, the same as Security guards, shop & restaurant personnel have. Although employer may take the cost accosiated with its washing, but I dont think it is mandatory requirement.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By John D Crosby
Hi
When I worked in the restaurant trade it was always said that the chef's clothing was to protect the food from the chef and was therefore not PPE. As for the washing of them all chefs washed their own and the check was that they looked clean.
Take care
John C
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Adam Worth
How about Nurses Scrubs.. PPE???? If I billed my time for ironing of my partners I'd be a rich man! :)
PPE vs Uniform hmmm In my COMAH days working with carcinogens 8oz clothing was seen as PPE and cleaned and maintained in house.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Zorro
You can claim the cleaning costs back through your tax
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By A Campbell
Is a chefs uniform not worn for hygeinic or uniformal reasons?
Is so... not PPE
Alternatives... aprons bibs etc
They may not look like they do on the telly but may change their views regarding washing their PPE!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Bob Y
Ron makes a valid point - I would guess that 'whites' might well not really be PPE.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Swis
A point to note ---
Any clothing provided for food hygiene purposes in the food industry is not subjected to PPE regs. However, uniform or clothing which protects against a specific risk will be classified as a PPE. Examples would include, high-visibility clothing, weatherproof or insulated clothing, etc.
However, one of the key responsibilty of any food business operator would be the maintenance of HACCP priniciples. Allowing employees to take away their clothings would lack such practice and would lack adequate due diligence.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Bob Y
I work for an LA and have just talked to the food safety team who do the enforcement on this. They suggested a "reality check".
It is well known and common practice in the industry for chefs etc to wash their own whites. They do not see this as a major concern, nor do they see it as a major issue as regards HACCP.
Food manufacturers (I don't want to get into an argument about whether a chef is a food manufacturer or not!) on the other hand tend to take a different approach and tend to have contracts for the cleaning of 'operatives' work wear, often to comply with the contractual requirements of the people that they supply to rather than any legal requirement.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By West
HACCP may require to have washed and cleaned clothes, but it does not specify who should take costs.
PPE is something protecting the worker from the hazards involved in the task he performs. For example if chief using metal gloves for cutting the meat - it is a PPE, but not the clothes he wear.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By beenus
Thank you everyone for your input. I always thought that chef's whites provided a level of protection from burns, spills (the jackets have long sleeves to protect naked arms). Hence why I classed them as PPE. I also thought there was an element of food safety requirements, so I stand corrected! I'm glad I checked.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Juan Carlos Arias
I work In the food industry (bakery) and I, in our work environment, would class whites as PPE. As said here before, company whites are provided for food safety mainly, however, they do offer protection to the worker too. We have all whites washed by a laundry company where this are passed through a heat tunnel reaching 150 degrees after washing. No domestic machine would be able to achieve this kind of temperatures. There might be an element of costumer's requirements for this (as already said by someone).
I think that regardless of requirement to treat chef's uniforms as PPE or not, the cleaning of them by the company, or the reimbursement of monies incurred by employees in washing them would be good practise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Ron Hunter
Just had a closer look at L25 Guidance on the Regulations. Such clothing and uniform in the catering industry is specifically excluded within the meaning of Regulation 3.
If memory serves, there was a bit of a furore and some intense lobbying at the time the Regulations were being drafted to ensure this exclusion was made. The Industry was fearful of the costs involved.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By cdthomas
Hi everyone,
I work for a training company and we train people from care homes in food hygiene, first aid and health and safety. Was very interested in your views regarding this topic-could someone help me out??? Are care home uniforms PPE????? They all wear them home which defies the object of learning about infection control etc etc.
I mentioned this to them but they were unsure whether it is classed as PPE or not, as I am.
Would appreciate your opinions before I open up a huge can of worms lol
chris
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Phil Rose
Chris - The definition of PPE in the regs is
"all equipment (including clothing affording protection against the weather) which is intended to be worn or held by a person at work and which protects him against one or more risks to his health or safety".
It is down to the employer to interpret (and yes I know that ultimate interpretation of the law is a matter for the courts!) that in relation to the provision of the uniform, but as nurses uniforms are not classed as PPE and they wear them home and launder them, themselves I would suggest that care home uniforms are not either. Of course some articles of clothing can be both uniform and PPE at the same time!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Swis
Agree with PHil,
I don't think care home uniform is a 'PPE'
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: New forum user
|
Content deleted by Moderator 1 - Advertising. We have problems with moving single posts away from a thread - this is the next best option.
Edited by moderator 18 October 2016 17:17:50(UTC)
| Reason: Not specified
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: New forum user
|
Originally Posted by: Verona Cook  Content deleted by Moderator 1 - Advertising. We have problems with moving single posts away from a thread - this is the next best option.
Edited by moderator 18 October 2016 17:17:21(UTC)
| Reason: Not specified
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
It appears again that people are not undertaing a PPE risk assessment [irrespective of the politics of who lobbied for what] and if it is found that the uniform protects [as it does in many an ioccasion] it is PPE
However in the real world people who run such businesses are very very powerfull and my advise is to look at some other issue in the kitchens and run with the EHO's comments irrespective
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Forum user
|
Hello Bob
just tried to PM you but your inbox is full
thanks
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user
|
Hi
I have just cleared my inbox
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user 
|
Mod 1 - love the emojis by the persons name.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Super forum user 
|
Uniforms do are not classed as PPE, Chefs whites and Nurse's outfits are all classed as Uniforms. If they wore a Plastic Apron so that they would not get covered in Dust Liquid or Dirt then that would be classed as PPE (The Apron not the uniform) The only exception is wet weather clothing which stops you (you guessed it!) Getting wet, ie on a building site, working outside etc.. Not sure why people would think Uniforms are PPE ??
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.