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One of my family members work in a grocery store where she works in the back kitchen preparing food and sometimes as the cashier. Both of these shifts have potentially hazardous occupational exposures. Working in the back kitchen exposes them to sharp objects and sometimes large machinery which could be harmful if not used correctly. Knives can be dangerous for obvious reasons, which is why cutting gloves should be provided to all employees working this shift.
In the hierarchy of controls, it is nearly impossible to prevent employees from using knives when they are preparing food. Alternatives such as a plastic knife is ineffective. The most that the employers can do is provide PPE and provide proper training. Working as a cashier has it's own set of health exposures such as exposure to the BPA found in the paper. There are alternatives to this type of paper, but it costs alot more than the standard used. Wearing PPE such as gloves is very helpful in preventing high exposure levels but this is not a solution to the problem. There is a way to prevent this exposure all together, and store owners should seriously consider looking into other paper options.
In the hierarchy of controls, it is nearly impossible to prevent employees from using knives when they are preparing food. Alternatives such as a plastic knife is ineffective. The most that the employers can do is provide PPE and provide proper training. Working as a cashier has it's own set of health exposures such as exposure to the BPA found in the paper. There are alternatives to this type of paper, but it costs alot more than the standard used. Wearing PPE such as gloves is very helpful in preventing high exposure levels but this is not a solution to the problem. There is a way to prevent this exposure all together, and store owners should seriously consider looking into other paper options.
It sounds challenging to try to mitigate the risks of these occupational hazards! I hope your family member always wears her gloves - I always think they look cool, like medieval armor. I really wish the BPA paper would be retired. I don't think it makes sense to sell something we know is so dangerous!
ReplyDeleteI agree, it is hard to prevent employees from using knives especially when they work in kitchens. With adequate training, you would hope to minimize these risks as much as possible. I too which BPA paper would be retired, with all the new advances in our times this should definitely be one of them!
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