With the call for better fitting PPE options for women on the rise, the PPE market has experienced an exponential boom.
Workplace hazards – physical, chemical, electrical or radiological – can lead to significant injuries. According to the International Labor Organisation (ILO) nearly 2.3 million workers worldwide will experience a workplace accident annually. This can lead to nearly 6000 deaths per day.
The risk of suffering an accident can be reduced by promoting the usage of PPE. The correct PPE creates barriers between workers and their harmful environments and will shield them from potential health or safety risks. When used appropriately, PPE can significantly reduce the harm of an accident or prevent it entirely.
PPE includes a vast range of safety products that safeguard each person from head-to-toe, according to whichever area of the body is most in need of protection, depending on the environment.
As awareness of the necessity for correct PPE grows, employers can proactively ensure the regularity and availability of efficient PPE gear. This, in turn, prevents costs that can be lost on medical expenses, worker compensation and added production time.
The increase in awareness of the importance of correct fitting PPE means that companies are taking the necessary steps to cater to worker safety requirements.
Construction firm Skanska USA has recently revealed their plans to provide safety gear designed specifically for female workers. This move is in concurrence with the growing number of female workers in the construction industry and the enormous lack of properly fitting female-orientated safety equipment.
This is all proven by the rise of the A+A trade show. The event saw over 1,100 exhibitors this year for PPE. The German PPE market volume also witnessed a profound increase from 1.92 billion euros in 2016 to nearly 2.23 billion in 2018. This massive development is largely attributed to employers’ newfound dedication towards safeguarding and educating their workers regarding workplace safety.
The manufacturing sector needs a huge array of PPE as the industry comprises many areas that may pose diverse risks.
The provision of PPE to workers is mandatory for employers in order to comply with stringent regulatory policies. Authorities like OSHA have enlisted certain mandates which require employers to safeguard their workers against any hazard they may encounter in the workplace.
The ANSI and EU have issued updated safety standards urging PPE manufacturers to produce comfortable, ergonomic products. Following numerous PPE revisions since 2016, there has been a profound change in the production of work gloves.
Safety managers across several industries follow standards set by the National Electrical Safety Code or NESC. It outlines various rules that will protect workers and the public.
Employee hand injuries comprised over one million medical emergencies in the U.S. per year, of which around 70% are a result of the lack of effective safety gear. These statistics demonstrate the importance of using personal protective equipment in the workplace.
OSHA has introduced numerous safety gear guidelines to be employed under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. PPE manufacturers have been upgrading and redesigning products accordingly in order to maintain optimum compliance with safety standards.
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