Page 91 - OHS, July/August 2022

party certification entity whose thorough evaluation process provides independent verification that sustainability claims related to an organization’s products and operations are honest, valid and verified.
Avoid Substandard or Counterfeit PPE
At the height of the pandemic, many buyers were burned by illegitimate operators at a time when proven, quality PPE was hard to come by. Fly-by-night companies seized on the high demand and low supply for PPE during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, offering gloves from factories with spurious credentials or falsified lab reports. Some buyers ordered from unknown suppliers out of desperation, only to receive gloves that were substandard or secondhand—if they received products at all. For that reason, it is critical to partner with trusted providers and properly vet any new PPE manufacturers.
To identify a reputable manufacturer, buyers should look for verifiable credentials from third parties, as well as an established history of delivering quality products. It is often easier to properly vet manufacturers based in the U.S. as buyers have more familiarity with quality and safety regulations. Domestic manufacturers also provide the benefit of immediacy, as American buyers can make onsite visits to facilities to test out gloves and assess quality in person. Any organization that has received second-rate gloves after placing a large order with an untested supplier can vouch for
the importance of this kind of due diligence.
The past two years have been tumultuous, with businesses
often putting hand protection on the back burner to focus attention on other critical developments. Now that PPE supply issues have eased somewhat, the timing is optimal to apply this broader perspective to hand protection that takes into account glove sourcing, protection type, environmental impact and product quality. By doing so, businesses across industries— medical, food service, manufacturing, custodial, scientific or otherwise—can be prepared for future pandemics, new phases of the current pandemic, as well as the more traditional risks and hazards that emerge every day.
Brian Moseley is the R&D Manager & Director of Product Management for SHOWA Group.
REFERENCES
1. https://www.bls.gov/iif/oshwc/osh/case/cd_r13_2020.htm 2. https://www.usitc.gov/publications/332/pub5145.pdf
3. https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/media/minority-media/portman-peters- announce-bipartisan-make-ppe-in-america-act-now-law
4. https://www.who.int/news/item/01-02-2022-tonnes-of-covid-19-health- care-waste-expose-urgent-need-to-improve-waste-management-systems
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JULY/AUGUST 2022 | Occupational Health & Safety 87
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