Packhouse PPE in Kenya

Reduce Hand Injuries

Protective gloves can help reduce cuts, abrasions, punctures and irritation during trimming, grading, bunching and packaging activities.

Improve Grip and Handling

Suitable gloves can improve grip when employees handle wet stems, flower bunches, crates, cartons and wrapping materials.

Protect Clothing and Skin

Overalls, coats and aprons help protect employees from dirt, moisture, plant sap, flower debris and damage to personal clothing.

Reduce Slip Risks

Suitable footwear with appropriate tread can help employees maintain grip on wet floors, loading areas and other slippery packhouse surfaces.

Protect Eyes During Trimming

Safety glasses can help reduce exposure to broken stems, plant fragments and debris during trimming, cutting and quality-control activities.

Support Workplace Hygiene

Standardised protective clothing helps maintain cleaner work practices while reducing direct contact between personal clothing and handled flower products.

Sharp Cutting Tools

Knives, secateurs, scissors and trimming tools may cause hand or finger injuries during stem cutting and flower preparation.

• Provide task-appropriate gloves
• Maintain tools in safe condition
• Train employees on correct handling
• Store cutting tools safely

Wet and Slippery Floors

Water, flower waste, leaves and packaging materials may increase the risk of slips and falls.

• Use footwear with suitable grip
• Clean spills promptly
• Keep walkways unobstructed
• Provide suitable floor drainage

Plant Debris and Sharp Stems

Broken stems, thorns, leaves and flower waste may cause scratches, punctures and irritation.

• Wear protective gloves
• Use suitable protective clothing
• Clear waste regularly
• Use designated waste containers

Manual Handling

Employees may lift and carry crates, buckets, cartons, flower bundles and packaging materials.

• Avoid overloading containers
• Use handling equipment where available
• Train workers on safe lifting
• Maintain clear transport routes

Repetitive Work

Continuous grading, bunching, wrapping and packing may contribute to hand, wrist, shoulder or back discomfort.

• Provide suitable workstations
• Rotate repetitive tasks where possible
• Use comfortable PPE
• Report discomfort early

Eye Exposure

Cut stems, elastic bands, flower fragments and packaging materials may create minor eye hazards.

• Use safety glasses where required
• Control cutting direction
• Maintain suitable working distance
• Dispose of waste safely

Cold Working Conditions

Some packhouse employees may work near pre-cooling areas, cold rooms or refrigerated dispatch spaces.

• Provide suitable protective clothing
• Use gloves appropriate for the task
• Limit unnecessary cold exposure
• Link cold-room duties to the cold-room PPE plan

Packaging Equipment

Strapping tools, sealing equipment, conveyors and other packhouse machinery may create pinch, cut or entanglement hazards.

• Train operators before use
• Keep guards in position
• Avoid loose clothing near machinery
• Report equipment defects promptly

Falling or Unstable Loads

Poorly stacked crates and cartons may shift or fall during storage, packing or dispatch.

• Stack containers securely
• Respect storage limits
• Keep aisles clear
• Use suitable safety footwear

Receiving Harvested Flowers

Employees receiving buckets, crates and flower bundles may handle wet stems, plant debris and heavy containers.

• Protective work gloves
• Overalls or protective coats
• Slip-resistant safety footwear
• Aprons where required

Flower Grading and Sorting

Grading teams handle large volumes of flowers and may come into contact with stems, thorns, leaves and moisture.

• Comfortable protective gloves
• Protective clothing
• Suitable safety footwear
• Arm protection where needed

Stem Cutting and Trimming

Employees may use knives, scissors or secateurs to trim stems and remove damaged plant material.

• Task-appropriate protective gloves
• Safety glasses where required
• Protective apron or coat
• Slip-resistant footwear

Bunching and Tying

Workers arrange flowers into bunches and may use elastic bands, ties, labels and small cutting tools.

• Close-fitting work gloves
• Protective clothing
• Suitable safety footwear
• Eye protection where bands may snap

Sleeving and Wrapping

Employees handle plastic sleeves, paper wraps, labels and packaging materials while preparing finished flower bunches.

• Light protective gloves
• Protective coat or overall
• Slip-resistant footwear
• Apron where required

Carton Packing

Packing teams place prepared flowers into boxes and may handle cartons, straps, tape and lifting equipment.

• Grip-supporting gloves
• Safety footwear
• Protective clothing
• Manual-handling controls

Quality Inspection

Quality-control staff may inspect stems, leaves, flowers, packaging and finished cartons.

• Suitable protective gloves
• Protective coat or overall
• Safety glasses where trimming occurs
• Slip-resistant footwear

Packhouse Cleaning

Cleaning teams may handle water, flower waste, detergents, bins and wet-floor conditions.

• Water-resistant gloves
• Protective apron
• Gumboots or waterproof footwear
• Eye protection where splashes may occur

Dispatch and Loading

Dispatch teams may move cartons, crates and flower consignments into cold storage or transport vehicles.

• Grip-supporting gloves
• Safety footwear
• Protective clothing
• Cold protection where required

Protective Work Gloves

Gloves for reducing contact with sharp stems, plant debris, wet flowers, packaging materials and minor workplace hazards.

Protective Overalls and Coats

Workwear for protecting employees' skin and personal clothing during grading, trimming, packing and cleaning activities.

Protective Aprons

Aprons provide additional front-body protection during wet handling, trimming, washing and general packhouse cleaning.

Safety Footwear

Footwear with suitable tread and protection for wet floors, moving crates, packing stations and dispatch areas.

Safety Glasses

Eye protection for stem trimming, quality inspection and activities where plant fragments or packaging materials may reach the eyes.

First Aid Kits

Accessible first aid supplies for cuts, abrasions, punctures and other foreseeable packhouse injuries.

Identify the Main Task

Determine whether the glove is needed for grading, trimming, wet handling, cleaning, packing or dispatch work.

Balance Protection and Dexterity

Gloves should provide suitable protection without making detailed flower handling and packaging unnecessarily difficult.

Check Grip Performance

The glove surface should provide suitable grip when handling wet stems, cartons, crates, tools and wrapping materials.

Select the Correct Size

Gloves that are too loose may interfere with work, while gloves that are too tight may reduce comfort or tear prematurely.

Consider Moisture Exposure

Employees handling wet flowers or cleaning workstations may require gloves with suitable water resistance.

Inspect Before Use

Check for holes, torn fingertips, worn coatings, damaged seams or contamination before employees begin work.

Slip Resistance

Select footwear with tread suitable for wet floors, smooth surfaces, packing areas and loading zones.

Water Resistance

Water-resistant footwear or gumboots may be suitable for washing areas and operations with frequent water exposure.

Toe Protection

Consider safety toe protection where employees handle heavy cartons, crates, pallets or other loads that may be dropped.

Comfort and Fit

Footwear should fit securely and remain comfortable during prolonged standing, walking and repetitive packhouse work.

Easy Cleaning

Footwear used in wet or hygiene-sensitive areas should be easy to clean and maintain.

Regular Inspection

Check footwear for worn tread, cracks, damaged soles, loose components and contamination.

Overalls

Overalls provide general body and clothing protection for grading, sorting, packing, dispatch and cleaning activities.

Protective Coats

Coats may be suitable for employees who require easy-to-remove workwear during grading, inspection and packaging.

Aprons

Aprons provide additional front-body protection during wet handling, trimming, washing and cleaning operations.

Correct Sizing

Protective clothing should allow safe movement without excessive loose material that may catch on equipment.

Cleaning Requirements

Select garments that can be cleaned according to the farm's hygiene procedures and the manufacturer's instructions.

Replacement Condition

Replace garments that are torn, badly stained, contaminated, damaged or no longer provide suitable coverage.

Keep Workwear Separate

Store packhouse workwear separately from personal clothing and contaminated chemical-handling PPE.

Provide Handwashing Facilities

Employees should be able to wash their hands before work, after breaks and after handling waste or contaminated materials.

Clean Reusable PPE

Reusable gloves, aprons, footwear and garments should be cleaned according to their material and manufacturer instructions.

Control Flower Waste

Stems, leaves, bands, wrapping materials and other waste should be removed regularly from floors and workstations.

Maintain PPE Storage

Store clean PPE in a dry and organised location where it is protected from contamination and physical damage.

Replace Damaged Equipment

Remove worn, torn or contaminated PPE promptly so employees do not continue working with unsuitable protection.

Issue PPE by Task

Match gloves, footwear, clothing and eye protection to the employee's actual packhouse duties.

Provide Correct Sizes

Maintain suitable glove, overall, coat, apron and footwear sizes for the packhouse workforce.

Inspect PPE Before Use

Employees should check gloves, footwear, eye protection and workwear before beginning their duties.

Keep Floors Clear

Remove water, stems, leaves, straps, cartons and wrapping materials from walkways promptly.

Maintain Cutting Tools

Keep scissors, secateurs, knives and trimming equipment in safe working condition.

Store Tools Correctly

Provide designated storage points so sharp tools are not left loose on workstations or inside cartons.

Separate Cold-Room PPE

Employees entering cold rooms should use PPE selected specifically for cold exposure rather than relying only on general packhouse clothing.

Maintain First Aid Access

Keep suitable first aid supplies accessible for cuts, punctures, eye incidents and other foreseeable injuries.

Record PPE Replacements

Track commonly damaged or frequently replaced items to improve stock planning and avoid shortages.

What PPE do flower packhouse workers need?

Common requirements include protective gloves, overalls or coats, aprons, safety footwear, eye protection and access to first aid equipment.

Which gloves are suitable for flower grading?

The correct gloves depend on the flower type, moisture level, thorn exposure, required grip and the amount of finger movement needed.

Do packhouse workers need safety footwear?

Suitable footwear may help reduce slip risks and protect feet from dropped crates, cartons or packing materials.

Are gumboots suitable for packhouse work?

Gumboots may be suitable in wet washing areas. Other packhouse sections may require lighter safety footwear with suitable grip.

Do flower graders need eye protection?

Eye protection may be required where employees trim stems, use cutting tools or face a risk from plant fragments and packaging materials.

Should packhouse workers wear aprons?

Aprons may be useful during wet flower handling, trimming, washing and cleaning activities.

Are respirators required in a normal flower packhouse?

Respirators are not normally a primary packhouse product category unless a specific airborne hazard has been identified through a workplace assessment.

Do packhouse workers need helmets?

Safety helmets are not normally displayed as a primary flower packhouse product category unless the risk assessment identifies an overhead-impact hazard.

What PPE is needed for packhouse cleaning?

Cleaning teams may require water-resistant gloves, aprons, suitable footwear and eye protection depending on the products and equipment used.

What PPE is required for cold-room entry?

Cold-room work may require insulated gloves, thermal clothing and suitable footwear. These requirements are covered in the dedicated cold-room PPE page.

How often should packhouse gloves be replaced?

Replace gloves when they are torn, punctured, contaminated, worn or no longer provide suitable grip and protection.

Can packhouse PPE be shared between workers?

PPE should be issued and managed according to fit, hygiene, cleaning and the flower farm's workplace procedures.

Can Bansi Safety Gear supply a complete packhouse team?

Yes. Submit worker numbers, sizes, required products, quantities, preferred brands and delivery location for a tailored quotation.

Can we upload an existing packhouse PPE schedule?

Yes. You can upload an RFQ, BOQ, Excel schedule, purchase requisition, product list or LPO draft through the quotation form.

Can packhouse PPE be combined with harvesting PPE?

Yes. Bansi Safety Gear can prepare one consolidated quotation for harvesting, packhouse, greenhouse, spraying and cold-room teams.

Do you deliver packhouse PPE within Kenya?

Provide the required products, quantities and delivery location when requesting your quotation.

Can you recommend alternatives to our current PPE?

Where requested, the quotation team can review your specifications and propose available alternatives for consideration.

Can first aid kits be included in the quotation?

Yes. First aid kits and selected replacement supplies can be included with the packhouse PPE quotation.