Released on = March 23, 2006, 8:04 am

Press Release Author = Ronco

Industry = Food & Beverage

Press Release Summary = With the high level of use of chemical solutions in
maintaining the sanitation and hygiene of HACCP food processing and handling
environments, proper hand and body protection is critical. The following 14 tips
provide guidelines on maximizing personal protection.

Press Release Body = Concord, Ontario (March 23, 2006) - In response to increased
consumer demands for food safety, Canada's governments - both federal and some
provincial - have developed food safety programs incorporating internationally
recognized HACCP - Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points - principles to reduce
the risk of cross-contamination. With the high level of use of chemical solutions,
proper body protection is critical.

DOs

1. Protect your hands with the appropriate glove material and thickness when using
chemical solutions. Each material has a different resistance level to chemicals.
Test the material against the concentration and solution being handled before
putting your hand in the solution wearing the glove.

2. Carefully review the glove cuff styles offered. Slip-on and basic knitwrist
cuffs do not offer a significant level of protection against chemicals. Safety and
gauntlet cuffs, 2.5 and 4 inches respectively, will allow the employee to reach
deeper into the solution while protecting him/herself. When raising one's arms
after working with liquids, a rolled cuff will gather small amounts of the solution
instead of letting it drip down onto the arm.

3. Determine the duration of exposure to the chemicals, concentration of the
solution, and nature of the material being handled, as selecting the proper glove
thickness is crucial. The longer the exposure and/or the higher the concentration,
the thicker the glove should be. Please note, however, that regardless of glove
thickness, gloves will have to be changed eventually as no glove will be able to
withstand the chemical indefinitely.

4. Supply gloves with the appropriate length for the application. If hands will only
be touching the chemical solution but will not be immersed in the liquid, the glove
length can be shorter as it does not have to offer protection to a large portion of
the arm. If the arm will be immersed in the liquid for any period of time, however,
a longer glove should be used to avoid having the chemical come into direct contact
with skin.

5. Change gloves when entering another department in order to reduce the risk of
cross-contamination.

6. Provide employees gloves in various sizes so that each individual can select the
most comfortable size, providing employees with a stronger grip on the item being
handled and increasing the likelihood that the product will be used.

7. Offer latex free products if there are employees with a suspected or confirmed
case of latex allergies. Reactions can range from mild rashes to potentially fatal
anaphylactic shocks.

8. Ensure that gloves are cleaned and stored thoroughly and hygienically between
uses or that they are used only once in order to reduce the risk of
cross-contamination.

9. Wear safety glasses when mixing chemical solutions where there is a chance of
splashing.

10. Use chemical resistant aprons and sleeves to protect your body and clothing
during handling of chemical solutions and other abrasive liquids.

DON'Ts

1. DON'T put on a pair of gloves without first washing your hands thoroughly.

2. DON'T wear the same glove when working in different departments in order to
reduce the risk of cross-contamination.

3. DON'T enter food processing areas when you are ill even if you will not be coming
into direct contact with food.

4. DON'T use a "one glove fits all people and applications" approach. Each glove
and item of protective apparel may be ideal for certain purposes while virtually
disintegrating when brought into contact with another chemical or substance. No
single glove available in the market is appropriate for each and every application
and chemical.

Ronco features a full line of disposable and reusable gloves, as well as protective
gear for increased safety and HACCP compliance.


Web Site = http://www.ronco.ca

Contact Details = For additional information and for a free catalogue and samples,
please contact us:
Tel: 905-660-6700 ext. 275
Email: ron.aharoni@ronco.ca
Web site: www.ronco.ca