Page 69 - OHS, June 2021

When thinking about safety, it is essential to consider comfort and fit along with protection against common hazards like slips, trips, falls and puncture wounds.
important features like toe protection, which are becoming more common in the market. If the job allows, these types of products can make a great addition to a company’s PPE offering.
Another key innovation that can improve footwear comfort is breathable components. Boots made out of breathable materials that include cooling textiles are hugely beneficial to workers, especially in warmer climates and hot work environments. When it comes to workwear, even certain kinds of coveralls are now made with conductive fibers that actively move heat away from the skin and create an instant cooling sensation—a distinct advantage for workers when they are exposed to excessive heat. Seemingly small features, such as venting details on jackets and coveralls to aid in air circulation, can also make a big difference when it comes to comfort.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, those who work in cold environments require insulation. From a work boot perspective, you can go with products that use traditional lofted insulation or consider footwear made with new warming materials using aluminum technology. This innovative paper-thin technology actually reflects and retains body heat to surround and keep your feet warm. To ensure feet stay dry in wet conditions, opt for a PPE company that uses a three-layer waterproofing system to help move moisture away from the foot, providing additional cushioning and utilizes a waterproof bootie to act as a barrier, ensuring a complete system.
The bottom line is that PPE from head to toe is getting better, and more options are available to workers. Staying up to date with innovations allows companies to outfit workers with the best equipment available.
Select the Right PPE Partner
There’s a lot to think about when it comes to worker safety and PPE, which can make the process for safety managers quite daunting. To be successful, employers should look to partner with the right PPE providers, who can take on some of the burden and help instill confidence on the part of the employer and workers.
At its core, a PPE provider partnership is about delivering high levels of service and quality products. Anyone charged with responsibility for safety will benefit from working with an established, knowledgeable and experienced PPE provider that can help navigate the world of safety standards and offer the best possible PPE solutions. If you’re looking for such a partnership, think about the following:
Total body protection. A quality provider should offer a www.ohsonline.com
comprehensive and customizable assortment of head-to-toe PPE to keep workers safe and productive. Everything from safety footwear and flflame-resistant workwear to gloves, safety glasses and more should be considered. An equipment provider should have a wide variety of PPE available because if it can supply the full range of required safety solutions, it will eliminate the time, money and energy spent searching for additional products.
Knowledge of safety standards. Safety standards generally change every three to five years and provide a set of minimum requirements that PPE must pass during testing. These safety standards vary by country, but all are intended to protect workers on the job. Although all safety footwear standards include key elements of protection, the testing methods, performance requirements and the certification process may have significant differences. A good PPE partner should consistently update its assortment with the latest up-to-code, lab-tested and field-proven materials. The partner should also use high-quality leathers, fabrics and components sourced from trusted brands, which are subjected to rigorous internal and independent third-party testing to ensure all safety standards are met. If the employer’s equipment is based on outdated standards the responsibility of compliance falls solely on its leadership.
Industry knowledge. It’s vital that a PPE provider understands the unique details of a company’s various work environments. Whether or not a specific boot or coverall will provide adequate long-term protection depends on much more than a set of standards. It requires a deep understanding of what the job actually involves, including the relevant surfaces, potential contaminants and physical requirements. An optimal provider will have experience developing purpose-built safety workwear for a variety of industries and use that expertise to ensure that employees are properly protected.
Distribution reach. While getting products to and from certain operations can pose challenges, a provider should be able to ship PPE products to any location within a few days of being ordered. Providers with strategically located stores, manufacturing facilities and distribution hubs ensure that PPE solutions and services are available whenever needed.
Full-service partnership. A PPE partner can offer all of the above, but if it doesn’t provide a dedicated expert who can guide safety managers through the appropriate standard and customizable PPE options, it won’t be a true partnership. The manufacturer should have a solutions-first, product-second mindset. If it emphasizes products more than the safety of workers, odds are it isn’t the right fit. A good partner should form a close strategic relationship with all stakeholders to help determine the biggest safety risks posed to workers and provide ongoing solutions and education to mitigate those risks. Put simply, the best providers will ease the entire PPE procurement process rather than add to or complicate the work.
Companies that take a top-down approach to workplace safety keep up to date on PPE innovations and select the right partners who can best mitigate the risk of injuries in the workplace. In the long run, that is the best way to keep workers safe and productive while instilling confidence in workers, partners and customers.
Jim Bailey is the managing director for the Americas for Red Wing Shoe Company.
JUNE 2021 | Occupational Health & Safety 65