Set Your Facility Up for a Safe, Compliant 2026
As the year comes to a close, many food processors and manufacturers are finalizing budgets, evaluating suppliers, and preparing for seasonal production. It is the perfect time to make sure your personal protective equipment (PPE) program is setting your facility up for a clean, compliant start to the new year.
Poor-quality or outdated PPE, especially disposable gloves and clothing, can lead to contamination risks, unnecessary costs, and compliance issues. A simple year-end review can prevent bigger problems down the line.
Use this checklist to ensure your PPE program is optimized for safety, consistency, and efficiency heading into 2026.
1. Review Glove Spec Sheets for Current Verification and Testing Data
Glove specifications are not static and should reflect the most recent testing results. Outdated or incomplete data can hide inconsistencies that affect food safety.
- Confirm your supplier provides independent third-party testing and verification, not just self-reported data.
- Check that your current glove models still meet the performance and contaminant testing standards you require.
- Request updated spec sheets from your supplier if you have not reviewed them this year.
Verified gloves, like Eagle’s, undergo routine testing through our Delta Zero™ verification program to ensure consistent quality, safety, and performance.
2. Check for Tearing or Early Failure Rates in Daily Use
Glove tearing or failure not only slows production but also increases contamination risk.
- Gather feedback from line workers or QA teams on glove performance and durability.
- Track the frequency of glove changes or rips per shift to identify recurring issues.
- Review any contamination or foreign material reports that may have been linked to glove performance.
If gloves are tearing frequently, it is time to switch to a verified, higher-quality option that maintains barrier integrity longer.
3. Evaluate Stock Levels for Year-End Shutdown or Seasonal Production
With holidays ahead, PPE inventory can be easy to overlook. Under-stocking leads to last-minute purchases, often at higher costs or from unreliable suppliers.
- Audit current stock levels for gloves, sleeves, aprons, and other disposable clothing.
- Account for seasonal production increases or temporary workforce expansion.
- Replenish verified gloves now to avoid supply disruptions in the first quarter.
- If using a color-coded glove safety program, make sure to keep a healthy stock of every glove color.
A reliable, transparent PPE partner can help you plan replenishments without sacrificing quality.
4. Replace Low-Quality Gloves That Compromise Consistency or Safety
If your current gloves have caused ongoing frustration such as rips, inconsistent sizing, or poor quality, do not carry those problems into the new year.
- Identify glove SKUs that have high rejection or replacement rates.
- Calculate the hidden costs of low-quality gloves including time lost, waste, and contamination risk.
- Replace them with verified gloves that are performance-tested and ethically sourced.
High-quality gloves may cost slightly more upfront but save significantly over time by reducing waste, downtime, and risk.
Ready to Start Fresh?
The end of the year is the ideal time to reset your PPE program for success. Verified gloves and clothing help your team stay compliant, protect your products, and reduce overall costs. Talk to our team about verified glove solutions for 2026.
