2.1 Personal protective equipment (PPEs)

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is the clothing and gear a beekeeper wears to keep bees from reaching the skin and to guard against other hazards at the apiary. Honey bees defend their colonies by stinging, and a disturbed colony can send hundreds of bees at an intruder within seconds. Correct PPE lets the beekeeper work calmly, avoid stings to the face, hands and feet, and inspect colonies, harvest honey or move hives with confidence. The three items covered here are the bee suit, gloves and gumboots, and they are worn together as one system. A gap in any one of them lets bees in.

Bee suit

The bee suit is the main protective garment. It covers the whole body from head to ankles and keeps bees away from the skin. A women's group running an apiary of top bar hives, for example, would give each member a suit with an attached veil before the first colony inspection. This protects the face and neck, where stings are most painful and most dangerous.

Types of bee suit:

• Full suit with hood and veil: A one-piece overall with a hood and a fixed veil. It gives the most complete protection and suits beginners and anyone working aggressive colonies.
• Jacket with veil: A jacket with a zip-on or fixed veil, worn over strong trousers. It is lighter and cooler but needs trousers that close well at the ankle.
• Separate veil and hat: A hat with a mesh veil, worn over ordinary clothing. It protects only the head and neck and is used for quick, gentle checks by experienced beekeepers.
• Ventilated suit: A suit made from layers of breathable mesh. It stays cooler in hot lowland areas, and the thick mesh holds the sting away from the skin.

Features of a good bee suit:

• Light colour: White, cream or pale khaki is best. Bees tend to react defensively to dark colours and to rough, fur-like textures, because the animals that raid colonies are dark and furry.
• Smooth, tightly woven fabric: Cotton or a cotton-polyester blend is thick enough to resist stings and has a smooth surface that does not hold bees.
• Loose fit: A suit that is not tight against the body keeps a sting from reaching the skin. It also allows free movement.
• Elasticated or closable cuffs and ankles: These stop bees crawling up the sleeves and legs.
• Zips with a protective flap: A flap or Velcro cover over the zip closes the gap where bees could enter.
• Veil with black mesh: Black mesh in front of the eyes gives the clearest view. A veil that stands well away from the face keeps stings from reaching the skin.

Putting on the bee suit correctly:

1. Check the suit for holes, torn seams, broken zips and a damaged veil. Even a small hole lets bees in.
2. Remove watches, rings and strongly scented items such as perfume. Scents and shiny objects can irritate bees.
3. Step into the suit and pull it up over your normal clothes. Wear long trousers and socks under it.
4. Close the main zip fully and press down the flap that covers it.
5. Raise the hood and fit the veil so that it stands clear of your face and neck. Fasten the veil zip or ties completely.
6. Pull the ankle closures snugly over your boots, and the glove cuffs over the suit sleeves (see the sections on gloves and gumboots below).
7. Ask a colleague to check your back and neck for gaps, then check your own front. Fix any gap before you go near the hives.

Gloves

Gloves protect the hands and wrists, which are the parts of the body most exposed when you lift frames, open hives and handle combs. A secondary school beekeeping club harvesting honey from its hives would give gloves to every learner who handles combs. This reduces stings and lets learners work calmly. Gloves must give enough protection without making the hands so clumsy that combs are dropped or bees are crushed.

Types of gloves:

• Leather gloves with long cuffs: Made from goatskin or cowhide, with a sleeve of canvas or cotton that reaches the elbow. They give strong protection against stings and suit work with defensive colonies.
• Cotton or canvas gloves: These are light and cool, but a sting can pass through thin fabric. They suit gentle colonies and light work.
• Rubber or nitrile gloves: These are thin and waterproof, and they give good feel. They are useful for handling wet or sticky material, but stings can pass through thin rubber.
• Disposable gloves: Used for hygienic work, such as handling extracted honey. They give little protection against stings.

What to look for when choosing gloves:

• Long cuff: The cuff must cover the wrist and part of the forearm so that bees cannot reach the gap between glove and sleeve.
• Elastic at the cuff: Elastic keeps the opening closed and holds the cuff firmly over the sleeve of the suit.
• Correct size: Gloves that are too large slip and make handling difficult. Gloves that are too small tear at the seams.
• Light colour: Pale gloves cause less irritation to bees than dark ones.
• Sound stitching and no holes: Check the seams and fingertips before every use, because stings go straight through holes.
• Dexterity: Choose the thinnest glove that still stops stings, so that you can feel the frames and handle them without crushing bees.

Using gloves safely:

• Pull the glove cuff over the suit sleeve: Close the gap with an elastic band or Velcro strap if the glove has no elastic.
• Replace or wash gloves that carry stings: A sting left in the leather releases an alarm scent that draws more bees to the same spot.
• Wash hands before putting gloves on: Honey or sweat carried into the glove soils it, and soiled gloves smell and attract bees.
• Handle frames gently: Gloves reduce feel, so lift frames slowly. Crushed bees release an alarm scent that makes the colony more defensive.
• Keep a spare pair at the apiary: If one pair becomes sticky with honey or carries many stings, change to a clean pair rather than carry on working.

Gumboots

Gumboots protect the feet and lower legs from stings, wet ground, snakes, thorns and dropped equipment. A farmer who keeps hives among tea bushes would use them because the grass is often wet and bees crawl upwards from the ground when a hive is disturbed. Boots also keep the ankles, a common entry point, covered and sealed.

Features of suitable gumboots:

• Rubber or PVC construction: The material is smooth, so bees cannot grip it, and it keeps water and mud out.
• Light colour: White or pale boots are better than black ones because dark colours can provoke bees.
• Height to mid-calf or higher: The boot must overlap the trouser leg or suit leg. This leaves no bare skin at the ankle.
• Slip-resistant sole: A deep tread gives safe footing on wet grass, mud and rocky or sloping ground.
• Correct fit with room for a thick sock: Boots that are too tight cause pain, and boots that are too loose cause blisters and tripping.

How to wear gumboots with the bee suit:

• Close the ankle gap: Pull the elasticated suit legs down over the boot tops and close them with elastic, Velcro or a strap, so that no gap is left at the ankle. Do not tuck the legs into the boots, because bees crawling up from the ground can then drop inside.
• Check the inside of the boots before wearing: Insects, scorpions or small snakes can shelter in a boot left on the ground.
• Wear clean socks: Socks absorb sweat and help prevent blisters when you work for several hours.
• Inspect the rubber for cracks: A split in the boot lets bees and water in, so replace damaged boots.
• Wash boots after work: Honey, wax and mud left on the boots attract bees and can carry smells to the next colony you visit.