Chain Gloves: The Ultimate Hand Protection for Knife Sharpening

Of course, sharp-enough knives are crucial for the best cuts, but so is knife sharpening. Depending on the type of knife you use, it can be risky. Even experienced butchers and chefs sometimes slip or misjudge the angle of their butcher’s knives and other blades, which can result in injury. Chain-mesh gloves are a workhorse in the food industry, and we are going to take a much closer look at what they and PPE do. 

What are Chain Gloves?

Chain gloves are made of interlocking stainless steel rings to provide the ultimate protection from sharp blades: they are flexible enough that your hands can easily manipulate the object they’re touching, while the stainless steel keeps your fingers safe. 

Regular cut-resistant gloves, made of fabric or synthetic fibre, can provide cut-resistant properties or good resistance to puncture (level B–D according to the EN 388 standard), but chain gloves possess the highest level of cut resistance (level F on the EN 388 standard).

Why Choose Chain Gloves for Knife Sharpening?

• Unmatched Protection: Patented interlocking stainless steel rings guard against accidental cuts, even with the sharpest of blades.
• Dexterity: Despite their inherent strength, chain gloves leave your fingertips free so that you can keep a tight hold on your knife and sharpening tools.
• Endurance: Chain gloves can last for several years of constant use, and are not easily damaged in the process, making them an excellent purchase for any butcher or chef.
• Hygiene: Stainless steel is easy to clean and disinfect, which is why it’s the metal of choice in kitchens and any environment involving food preparation.

How to Use Chain Gloves with a Steel Knife Sharpener

1. Pick the Right Size: Make sure the gloves fit close to the hand, but still comfortably with enough room for a full range of motion in your fingers.
2. Put on the Gloves: Securely fasten the gloves on both hands.
3. Hold the Sharpener: Take the steel sharpener in your non-dominant hand, keeping it pointed downward.
4. Angle of the Knife: Hold your butcher’s knife at a 15-20 degree angle to the sharpener.
5. Swipe Down: Swipe softly and evenly down the sharpener using the blade of the knife in a straight line from heel to point.
6. Repeat: Repeat on the other side of the blade, alternating sides with each stroke.
7. Clean: Wipe the blade clean with a damp cloth to remove any metal filings. After each use, wash the gloves with soap and water.

Beyond Sharpening: Other Uses for Chain Gloves

• Deboning: Chain gloves also protect your hands and fingers when cutting through thick ligaments, stripping bones clean, or handling any sharp bones that might splinter.
• Food Processing: Chain gloves can be found in food processing plants where they slice or dice vast amounts of food.
• Woodworking and Carving: Gloves for woodworking and carving can protect your hands from cuts and scrapes when using chisels, saws, and other woodworking tools.

Where to Buy Chain Gloves in the UK

Chain gloves are available in the UK at a variety of retail shops. You can find them at butcher supply stores, cookware shops or kitchen supply stores, as well as online.

However, whatever your industry level, make sure you always source from people within the industry, like Kentmaster UK. 

It’s easy to buy anything that looks pretty on a website, but do they have nearly 170 years of industry experience to give you the know-how of exactly how to use anything you purchase? We doubt it! 

Remember: Safety should always be a priority when working with sharp tools. Chain gloves are a great addition to your safety kit. They put an extra protective barrier between your hands and the material you’re working on and should give you greater confidence with the tool.

PPE: Safeguarding the Backbone of the Meat Industry

PPE isn’t a gimmick or a fancy outfit: it’s a bulwark against harm for workers, a pillar of hygiene in meat production. It’s essential at every stage of the world’s food supply, from the raw slaughterhouse to the gleaming butcher store.

Abattoir and Slaughterhouse PPE: The Frontline of Safety

Although their use might not be universal, the nature of the abattoir and slaughterhouse environments (e.g., sharp slaughtering implements, slippery and wet floors, the use of butchers knives, biological contaminants) demands that some form of PPE is essential:

• Eye Protection
• Earplugs
• Long-sleeved Blouse/shirt
• Long Trousers
• Waterproof Shoes or Boots
• Apron
• Headgear
• Chain Gloves: The biggest, baddest, most protective gloves ever conceived for the kitchen, these will save your pinkie nail after 400 cuts of chicken.
• Steel-Toe Boots: Steel toes protect feet from falling objects and accidental crushing, while non-slip soles protect against slipping on wet surfaces.
• Aprons and Sleeves: Fabrics that are waterproof and cut-proof protect clothing and skin from contact with blood, viscera, and other agents liable to compromise safety.
• Helmets and Face Shields: Protect the head and face from flying debris, splashes, and abrasions from working with animals.

Meat Processing Plant PPE: Maintaining Hygiene and Efficiency

And, when carcasses pass through to processing plants, PPE remains critical in the protection of workers and food:

• Cut-Resistant Gloves: These gloves weigh less than chain gloves and are designed to protect against cuts and punctures in trimming, deboning, and slicing operations.
• Mesh Sleeves and Aprons: Lightweight and breathable yet protective garments providing extra defence against cuts and splashes.
• Hairnets and Beard Nets: These prevent hair from contaminating products and machinery.
• Waterproof Boots: You’ll need to wear slip-resistant, waterproof boots like those used in slaughterhouses to keep your feet dry on slippery floors.
• Boot Washers: Automated boot washers clean and disinfect footwear on the way into different work areas to minimise the risk of viral infection.

Butcher Shop PPE: Customer-Facing Safety and Cleanliness

And butcher shops are seen as needing a more formal approach to PPE, balancing safety and hygiene with a professional image:

• Butcher’s Aprons: Made from durable twill, aprons keep clothing clean and dry by catching spills and stains while also projecting a professional image to customers.
• Cut-Resistant Gloves: These are very important, but only sometimes worn continually when handling knives and other tools.
• Steel Knife Sharpeners: Regularly honing butcher knives on a steel sharpener ensures optimal sharpness, reducing the risk of accidental slips.
• Knife Sharpening Tools: A well-maintained set of sharpening tools is essential for keeping butcher knives in top condition, ensuring both safety and efficiency.

Home Kitchen PPE: Don’t Forget Safety at Home

Even in home kitchens, PPE can play an important role in preventing injuries:

• Cut-Resistant Gloves: Who doesn’t chop meat or use sharp knives at home? This is a good investment for just about anyone.
• Steel Knife Sharpener: Keep your kitchen knives sharp to reduce the risk of accidents.
• Aprons: Protect clothing from stains and spills while cooking.

SUMMARY

Without PPE, the meat industry would not survive; it protects workers, ensures food safety, and increases efficiency at every step. The right kind of PPE, like chain-mesh gloves, creates a safer, more productive environment for everyone involved, especially when workers are using butchers knives with a steel knife sharpener, it can be a hazard. Good luck!