3.1 Personal protective equipment

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is the clothing and gear a beekeeper wears to prevent stings and to work with confidence around a colony. Bees defend the hive with their stings, and a beekeeper who is well protected moves slowly and smoothly, which keeps the bees calm. Light colours are preferred because bees tend to react defensively to dark, rough or hairy materials. Before any hive is opened, the beekeeper puts on a bee suit with a veil, gloves and gumboots, and seals every gap.

Bee suit

The bee suit is a loose, light-coloured overall that covers the whole body and carries the veil. It is loose so that a sting cannot reach the skin through the cloth, and light so that it does not alarm the bees or overheat the wearer. Example: a beekeeper at an apiary with ten hives wears a white cotton suit with a zip and a hat-and-veil unit, and checks it before each inspection.

• Fabric: Thick cotton or similar cloth is used because a sting cannot easily go through it. Thin or tight clothing lets the sting reach the skin.
• Fit: The suit should be loose, with room to bend and lift frames or bars without the cloth pulling tight against the body.
• Veil and hat: The mesh should stand clear of the face so that a bee on the mesh cannot sting through it. It must be fixed firmly to the suit at the neck so that there is no gap.
• Sealing gaps: Elastic bands or tape at the cuffs and ankles close the openings through which bees could crawl in.
• Care: Wash the suit regularly, because old venom, sweat and propolis stains carry scents that make bees more defensive. Repair tears and loose zips before the suit is used again.

Gloves

Gloves protect the hands and wrists, which are the parts most often stung because they are close to the bees when frames or bars are handled. They should be strong enough to resist stings but still allow a firm grip. Example: a beekeeper lifting a heavy frame of honey wears leather gloves with long cuffs that go over the sleeves of the suit.

• Material: Leather or thick fabric gloves resist stings better than thin rubber or cloth gloves.
• Length: The cuffs must cover the wrists and overlap the suit sleeves, with the join sealed with a band or tape.
• Fit: Gloves should fit snugly. Loose gloves make frames hard to hold and can cause them to slip.
• Handling feel: Thick gloves reduce the sense of touch, so move slowly to avoid crushing bees, because a crushed bee releases an alarm scent.
• Cleaning: Gloves become stained with propolis and venom scent, so they should be washed or replaced when they are dirty or torn.

Gumboots

Gumboots protect the feet and ankles and stop bees from crawling up the legs. Bees that fall from the combs land on the ground near the hive, so the lower body is a common point of entry. Example: a beekeeper at a farm apiary wears light-coloured gumboots with the suit legs pulled down over the boot tops and taped.

• Colour: Light-coloured boots are preferred, since dark boots may provoke bees.
• Height: The boots should reach above the ankle so that no skin is exposed between the boot and the trouser leg.
• Sealing: The trouser legs go over the boot tops and are fastened with a band or tape so that bees cannot crawl inside.
• Grip and protection: A good sole prevents slipping on wet grass or around the hive stand, and the boot protects the feet from dropped tools or frames.
• Cleaning: Wash the boots after use, because honey, wax and venom scent attract bees and ants.

Checking protective clothing before use

A short, ordered check before every inspection ensures that no gap is left for bees to enter. It takes only a few minutes and prevents most stings.

1. Inspect the suit: Look for tears, thin patches and a faulty zip, and repair or replace the suit if any are found.
2. Put on the suit and boots: Wear the suit first, then the gumboots, with the suit legs over the boot tops.
3. Fit the veil: Fix the hat and veil, and make sure the mesh stands clear of the face and neck.
4. Wear the gloves: Pull the cuffs of the gloves over the suit sleeves.
5. Seal the gaps: Fasten bands or tape at the wrists and ankles.
6. Check with a partner: Ask another person to look for any gaps at the neck, zip, wrists and ankles before approaching the hive.

Odours that irritate bees

Perfume, strong-smelling soap and sweat odour can irritate bees even when the body is fully covered. The beekeeper should wash and avoid scented products before an inspection. Clothing washed in strong-smelling detergent should also be avoided.

Responding to stings

Even a well-protected beekeeper may be stung, so the response should be planned in advance.

• Remove the sting at once: Scrape it out with a fingernail or blade if possible, because speed matters most.
• Move away from the hive: Alarm scent released at a sting attracts other bees, so step back and give the bees time to settle.
• Cool and rest: Cold water or a cool cloth reduces swelling and pain.
• Know the danger signs: Swelling of the face or throat, difficulty breathing, dizziness or a spreading rash after a sting need urgent medical help. Example: a beekeeper at a farm apiary keeps a first aid kit at the hive site and knows the nearest health centre before any inspection begins.
• Work with a partner: A second person can help in an emergency and can check that the protective clothing remains sealed.