Controls and PPE

Selecting the Right PPE for Cleaning Chemicals

Choosing Gloves, Aprons, and Eye Protection That Actually Match the Chemical

Personal protective equipment is the last line of defence in COSHH, but it is still the line most staff actually touch every shift, so getting the specification right matters. The mistake most hospitality businesses make is treating PPE as generic: a box of thin disposable gloves and a single type of apron for every job. A glove that protects against a mild sanitiser may dissolve against a corrosive oven cleaner, and household sunglasses are not eye protection. The safety data sheet for each product tells you what protection it needs, and matching that to real equipment is the whole skill. This article explains how to read those requirements and choose gloves, eye protection, aprons, and footwear that match the chemicals on your shelves.

Read a safety data sheet to find the right PPE See COSHH features

Key takeaways

The safety data sheet, especially section 8, sets the PPE specification for each product.

Chemical-resistant gloves should meet EN374 in a material the safety data sheet supports, not generic food-handling gloves.

Corrosive products need proper eye protection, goggles or a face shield, because splashes can cause permanent eye damage.

Match gloves, aprons, and eye protection to how the product is actually used, and keep them at the point of use.

Train staff to wear and remove PPE correctly, and replace anything torn, perished, or contaminated.

Let the Safety Data Sheet Set the Specification

Section 8 of every safety data sheet sets out the exposure controls and the personal protection the manufacturer recommends, and it is the starting point for any PPE decision. It will usually name the glove material and sometimes the breakthrough time, the eye protection standard, and whether respiratory protection is needed. For chemical-resistant gloves the relevant standard is EN374, which covers protection against chemicals and micro-organisms, and a good supplier will tell you which of their gloves meet it for the specific product. Do not assume one glove fits everything: nitrile resists many cleaning chemicals well but performs differently against solvents, while thin latex or vinyl food-handling gloves offer almost no protection against a corrosive descaler. Read the sheet, match the material, and keep a note of which glove pairs with which product.

Gloves: Material, Thickness, and Fit

Gloves are the most used and most misused item of PPE in a kitchen. For general diluted sanitiser, a reusable household-style glove is usually fine. For corrosive oven and grill cleaners, strong descalers, and drain unblockers you need chemical-resistant gloves marked to EN374, in a material the safety data sheet supports, and often longer gauntlet styles so a splash cannot run down inside the cuff. Thickness affects both protection and the breakthrough time before the chemical reaches the skin, so a thin disposable glove offers little defence against an aggressive product even briefly. Fit matters too: a glove too large reduces grip and dexterity, which makes a slip more likely, while a torn or perished glove offers no protection at all. Check gloves before use, replace damaged ones, and store reusable gloves where they can dry rather than fester.

Eye, Face, and Body Protection

Splashes to the eyes are among the most serious chemical injuries in hospitality, particularly from corrosive oven cleaners and drain unblockers that can cause permanent damage in seconds. Where the safety data sheet calls for it, provide proper eye protection: safety glasses for low splash risk, but goggles or a face shield where neat corrosive product is sprayed or where there is a real chance of it reaching the face. Ordinary spectacles are not eye protection. For the body, a chemical-resistant apron protects against splashes that soak through a normal apron and reach the skin, and it should be worn for tasks such as decanting concentrate or cleaning a canopy. Closed, slip-resistant footwear is the norm in kitchens anyway and also guards against spills onto the feet. Match the level of body and face protection to how the product is actually used, not to the worst case on paper.

Storing, Maintaining, and Training on PPE

PPE only works if it is available, in good condition, and worn correctly, which makes its management as important as its selection. Keep the right gloves and eye protection at the point of use, not locked in an office, so there is no excuse to skip them. Inspect reusable items regularly and bin anything torn, perished, or contaminated. Disposable gloves are for single use and should not be reused across tasks. Train staff not only to wear PPE but to remove it safely so they do not transfer chemical from a contaminated glove to their skin or face. Record that this training happened as part of your COSHH records. PPE that is the wrong size, kept too far away, or never demonstrated is PPE that will not be worn when it matters, which puts you back at the bottom of the hierarchy with no real protection.

What to do next

Build a glove chart matched to each product

List your hazardous products and the EN374 glove material the safety data sheet supports, so staff know which glove pairs with which chemical.

Provide goggles for corrosive products

Add goggles or a face shield wherever neat corrosive oven cleaner or drain unblocker is used, and store them with the product.

Move PPE to the point of use

Keep the right gloves and eye protection beside the chemicals they go with rather than in a central store, so they are always to hand.

Common mistakes to avoid

Mistake

Using thin food-handling gloves for corrosive cleaners

Instead

Latex or vinyl food gloves offer almost no protection against a corrosive descaler or oven cleaner. Use chemical-resistant gloves to EN374 in the material the safety data sheet specifies.

Mistake

Treating ordinary glasses as eye protection

Instead

Prescription or fashion glasses do not protect against chemical splashes. Provide safety glasses, goggles, or a face shield rated for the task as the product requires.

Frequently asked questions

What gloves should I use for cleaning chemicals?

For general diluted sanitiser a reusable household-style glove is usually adequate. For corrosive oven cleaners, descalers, and drain unblockers you need chemical-resistant gloves marked to EN374 in a material the safety data sheet supports, often in a longer gauntlet style.

What does EN374 mean on gloves?

EN374 is the European standard for gloves that protect against chemicals and micro-organisms. A glove certified to EN374 has been tested for resistance to specific chemicals, and the safety data sheet or supplier will tell you which glove suits your product.

Do staff need goggles to use oven cleaner?

If neat corrosive oven cleaner is sprayed or there is a real chance of it reaching the face, yes. Corrosive products can cause permanent eye damage, so goggles or a face shield are appropriate where the safety data sheet calls for eye protection against splashing.

Where should PPE be kept?

PPE should be kept at the point of use, beside the chemicals it goes with, so it is always available and there is no reason to skip it. It should be inspected regularly and anything torn, perished, or contaminated replaced.

Controls and PPE