Choosing Work Garments to Promote Hygiene

Unloading soiled garments. Garments need to be accurately sorted and those identified as “food-related” kept segregated.

Washing and drying. Identified “food-related” soiled garments should be hygienically laundered with a specified HACCP/GFSI wash process and cleaning formula. After the wash cycle, items get loaded into dryers for moisture removal and garment conditioning.

Inspection and garment finishing. All hygienically clean garments should undergo multi-point quality inspections; garments passing inspection should go through a high-temperature steam tunnel or garment pressing; garments failing inspection need to be routed for mending or replacements and go through the complete PPP again.

Loading the route vehicle for delivery. Trucks should be loaded for delivery with appropriate segregation and protection between soiled and hygienically clean garments.

Final delivery of hygienically clean garments. Finished garments (with optional poly-wrapping) are to be properly segregated and transported from the plant to the designated site at the customer location for final delivery.

Laundering process certification. When evaluating which food service uniform program works best for your business, another important consideration is food service laundering certification. Look for providers that have been awarded hygienic laundering certifications for their processes specific to the food industry.

There are a few organizations that provide these types of certifications.

For example, TRSA Hygienically Clean Food Safety (HCFS) certification status for cleaning and servicing of work apparel for food-related industries lets the world know that your uniform service provider is doing its part to help ensure food safety for consumers. TRSA is an international organization, representing textile industry companies, with expertise to determine appropriate hygienic laundering solutions for food manufacturing and food processing facilities and workplaces.

NSF International and others have also launched similar certification programs for commercial laundering operations to verify their design effectiveness in providing hygienic laundering solutions.

Using a hygienically clean certified laundry can reassure customers that you are committed to product safety, and can further establish your credibility as it relates to a focus on quality and concern for consumers. More and more, businesses in food-related industries are looking for such third-party validation from credible organizations.

Specialized food service clothing designs. Uniform designs for food-related industries are not just for show. This is another area for consideration, as uniform design also helps address critical safety functions. Be sure to choose a food industry uniform provider that offer garments with HACCP/GFSI-conscious designs and features.

When choosing food processor coats and food service uniforms for employees, business customers and the public can benefit from certain safety design features. Below are a few examples.

• No pockets above the waist that could potentially trap hazardous bacteria; or could potentially store items that may fall into the food or packaging.
• No buttons on the garment that could also potentially fall into the food or packaging; snaps are preferred in food industries.
• Durable materials, such as industrial-grade fabrics, can resist contamination and help prevent erosion.
• Long sleeves to cover arms and long pants to cover legs to prevent hairs or other skin contaminants. Elastic cuffs add another level of protection as well.
• Color coding of garments to distinguish workers wearing uniforms in food processing areas, those who handle raw and/or cooked food, from other workers to help avoid cross-contamination of harmful bacteria.

Working with a uniform service provider that can regularly maintain uniforms can help assure that hygienically clean uniforms are readily available on a daily basis. The provider should also regularly inspect all garments for any compromises in quality that could expose the company to contamination risks.

Simply put, the importance of having a specialized uniform service provider that is knowledgeable about HACCP/GFSI and the safety needs of food-related industries cannot be overstated. Minimizing cross-contamination risks and complying with food safety regulations are musts in order for food businesses to be successful—and the right uniform service provider and employee workwear designs can really make a difference.