Hi all

On the subject of bee stings and protective clothing, the
normally adopted approach from a health and safety
perspective is to reduce the risks as far as practicable by
changes to the process, before designing protective equipment
to manage the residual risk to the worker (Human, not apian!).

For example, a noisy factory environment is best dealt with by
reducing the noise production as much as is practicable at
source, and then by providing ear defenders for use in any
areas where it is not practicable to keep the noise levels down.
Leaving the noise level high and handing out superlative ear
defenders is not normally acceptable.

In the context of beekeeping, this implies that good tempered
behaviour is a priority for the bees, minimising the risks of
being stung in the first instance.

Designing protective clothing to protect a beekeeper from the
worst of attacks from manic bees would not be regarded as a
correct approach to the problem of providing a safe working
environment for a beekeeeper in this area of risk.

Regards

Mike Rowbottom

HARROGATE
North Yorkshire
UK

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