In a dairy product manufacturing environment, maintaining high standards of hygiene is critical to food safety. While gloves may seem like an added layer of protection, they are not routinely recommended for general dairy processing activities. Instead, proper hand washing and the use of hand sanitiser are considered more effective and reliable hygiene controls.
Why Gloves Are Not Always Recommended
Gloves can create a false sense of security. When worn for extended periods, they can become contaminated just like bare hands. If gloves are not changed frequently, they may actually increase the risk of cross-contamination between products, surfaces, and equipment.
Additionally, gloves can:
• Reduce awareness of contamination (dirt, residues, or damage may go unnoticed)
• Tear easily without the wearer realising
• Be incorrectly reused between tasks
• Discourage regular hand washing and sanitising
In dairy processing, where frequent task changes occur, gloves would need to be changed constantly to remain effective—something that is often impractical and inconsistently applied.
Why Hand Sanitiser Is Preferred
Effective hand hygiene is best achieved through regular hand washing followed by the use of an approved food-grade hand sanitiser. This approach:
• Actively reduces microbial load on hands
• Encourages frequent hygiene practices
• Allows workers to immediately sanitise hands between tasks
• Provides better compliance with food safety systems such as HACCP and GMP
Alcohol-based or approved sanitising agents are fast-acting, easy to use, and can be applied repeatedly throughout the shift without disrupting operations.
When Gloves Are Used
Gloves may still be required in specific situations, such as:
• Handling ready-to-eat products
• Covering cuts or wounds (over dressings)
• Performing specialised tasks where mandated by risk assessment or customer requirements
In these cases, gloves must be clean, intact, changed frequently, and never replace proper hand washing and sanitising.
Conclusion
In dairy manufacturing, clean hands are safer than contaminated gloves. Regular hand washing combined with effective hand sanitiser use provides better control over hygiene risks, supports food safety compliance, and reduces the likelihood of cross-contamination. Gloves are a tool for specific applications—not a substitute for good hand hygiene.