BRCGS stands for Brand Reputation through Compliance Global Standards. Previously known as BRC (British Retail Consortium), it provides globally recognised standards for businesses.
The BRCGS Food Safety Standard sets requirements for food safety, quality, and operational criteria within food manufacturing organisations.
Here’s what you need to know about BRCGS requirements for PPE and workwear.
BRCGS requires food manufacturing sites to have appropriate controls for protective clothing.
PPE and workwear use, maintenance, laundering, and controls should be clearly defined, documented, and auditable.
This includes making sure that:
Sites should have documented procedures covering the use and management of PPE and protective clothing.
These procedures should account for:
Your procedure should clearly state:
Identifying risk levels across your workplace is an important part of managing food safety requirements.
It's important to remember that different production zones may require different levels of control.
High-risk and other controlled areas may require stricter protective clothing arrangements based on the risks identified.
Controls designed to prevent cross-contamination can include:
In lower-risk areas, controls should reflect the risks associated with the environment and activities taking place.
Protective clothing should be suitable for its intended use and help prevent product contamination.
Requirements will vary depending on the production environment, activities, and risks identified.
This could include:
At SMI, we stock protective clothing for food manufacturing environments, including disposable face and headwear and overcoats and aprons.
Where gloves are required or used, appropriate controls should be in place to manage contamination risks.
Depending on their intended use, this could include ensuring they're:
Selecting the right disposable gloves helps reduce contamination risk and support compliance.
Protective clothing should be kept clean and in suitable condition for its intended use.
Changing and laundering arrangements should reflect the risks associated with the production environment.
Workplaces should have clear procedures for:
Without appropriate hygiene controls, protective clothing alone cannot effectively control contamination risks.
Appropriate controls should be in place when entering and leaving relevant production areas to help prevent cross-contamination. Requirements should reflect the type of area and the potential risks identified.
Depending on these risks, controls may include:
Exit procedures should also reflect the controls needed to minimise contamination risks.
TOP TIP: Clear signage, supervision, and training help ensure these procedures are followed consistently.
PPE procedures should account for everyone entering relevant areas, not just permanent staff.
This includes:
Anyone entering a controlled area should follow the protective clothing requirements established for that environment. These requirements should reflect the risks associated with those areas and any activities taking place.
Natures Way Foods manages PPE requirements across its roles, sites, and working environments.
See how SMI supports its food manufacturing operation through product trials, wearer feedback, and simple PPE procurement.
Footwear is another important consideration when reviewing your protective clothing controls.
BRCGS includes suitable protective footwear within clause 7.4.2, where required to prevent product contamination.
Make sure you check the latest BRCGS guidance when reviewing footwear controls across your site.
BRCGS certification involves assessment of a site's premises, operational systems, and procedures against the standard's requirements.
However, maintaining effective controls shouldn't rely on external audits alone.
Internal monitoring can include:
Consistent monitoring demonstrates control and supports audit readiness.
If you’re reviewing your PPE programme, SMI can help you source protective clothing suitable for food manufacturing environments.
Our range includes:
Why choose SMI:
Not sure what you need? Our friendly team can guide you!
Written by Tom Blake
Tom Blake is Head of Marketing at SMI Group, responsible for shaping the company's brand, marketing strategy, and customer communications. He enjoys sharing industry insights and helping businesses discover practical solutions to workplace challenges.
Learn how fire safety compliance works in large logistics and warehouse environments, including legal requirements, fire risk assessments, and essential safety checks.
Discover the best work gloves for wet, oily, and slippery environments. Your comparison of waterproof, thermal, and nitrile-coated gloves.
Learn what EN ISO 16321 means for eye protection, what's changed from EN 166, and whether your existing protective eyewear needs replacing.
Read the latest industry insights, top tips, and SMI news.
