PPE Checklist for Restaurants and Commercial Kitchens

A busy kitchen needs PPE for food safety and for staff safety: hot ovens, sharp knives, harsh cleaners and wet floors. Use this checklist to make sure every station is stocked.

Prep and line

• Disposable gloves: blue nitrile is easy to spot in food. SkyBlue Shield Nitrile Examination Gloves for everyday use, or Lightblue Shield Nitrile Examination Gloves for quick, frequent changes.
• Poly gloves for very brief contact, such as sandwiches and salads: Clear Poly Disposable Gloves.
• Hair covers: StrongNets Nylon Mesh Hair Covers 24" are cool and discreet. Use SoftCover® Bouffant Flat Hair Covers 24" for full coverage.
• Beard covers for anyone with facial hair: Beard Covers, Ear-Loops Style, White (2 strgins wearing over ears).
• Aprons: Premium PE Aprons 1.5 Mil in colours for raw and ready-to-eat.

Allergen control: keep one glove colour, such as Violet Shield Nitrile Examination Gloves, only for allergen-free orders.

Butchery and fish

• US Mesh® Stainless Steel Mesh Glove with Adjustable Strap – Wrist Length on the hand that holds the product.
• Cut-resistant gloves under a nitrile glove, such as Cut-Resistance Gloves Level A4, Sandy Nitrile Coated Palm.
• TPU Reusable Apron for wet work.

Ovens, grills and bakery

• Baker's Terry Cloth Oven Mitt Gloves Kevlar Patch for deep ovens.
• Terry Cloth Seamless Gloves w/ Knit Wrist for moving trays at bench height.
• Keep gloves dry: wet cloth carries heat to the skin very quickly.

Dish pit

• Long-cuff gloves keep water out: Blue Shield Nitrile Disposable Gloves Blue 8MIL 12" or reusable Blue-Touch Nitrile Reusable Gloves.
• Waterproof sleeves: TPU Reusable Sleeve or PE Sleeves.
• Waterproof apron: Premium PE Aprons XL.
• Non-slip waterproof footwear for wet floors, such as Dunlop Flexible PU, Steel toe, Resistant To Oil, 15″.

Cleaning and sanitizing

• Colour-coded Heavy Duty Food service Wipes and Microfiber Cloth 16"x16".
• Food Service Towels White for raw food areas and spills.
• Medium Duty Green Scouring Pads and Medium Duty Scrubbing Sponge for pots, pans and grills.
• Reusable chemical-resistant gloves: Green-Touch+ Nitrile Reusable Flock Lined Gloves 15mil.

See our kitchen cleaning and colour-coding guide for a simple system.

Front of house

• Clear or blue gloves for handling ready-to-eat food at the counter.
• Hair restraints for anyone handling food.

Daily habits that matter

• Change gloves between raw and ready-to-eat food, after touching your face or phone, and after cleaning.
• Wash hands before putting on new gloves.
• Keep supplies stocked at each station, not in a back room.
• Check your local public health unit’s food premises requirements.

Frequently asked questions

Which gloves are best for restaurants?

Blue powder-free nitrile gloves are the most common choice: strong, latex-free and easy to spot in food.

Do cooks have to wear hairnets?

Food premises rules generally require food handlers to keep hair restrained. Check with your local public health unit.

Do you deliver to restaurants in Toronto?

Yes. We ship across Canada, with free shipping on orders over $150.