Today’s changing industries are putting higher demands on manufacturers to produce high quality industrial supplies and apparel. Being fueled by government and industry regulations, standards are increasing for safe work practices and performance industrial supplies along with personal protective equipment (PPE) and apparel. As industries continue to grow and expand their scope of work, comprehensive solutions are required to meet business needs. In addition, science and industry continue to develop new type of industrial apparel to provide protection against newly recognized hazards.
Let us take a look at how these changing factors have spurred higher demand for quality apparel, tools, equipment, and supplies.
The Regulatory World
Regulations are constantly being created, revised, and implemented. Hazards are classified and ranked and then have mandates about the best method to mitigate and prevent them. Industrial supplies play a big part in maintaining federal, state, and industry compliance with best practices. Personal protective equipment is the cornerstone of safe jobsites after engineering solutions and work practices.
One example of new federal regulations coming into effect in the near future will cover road crews working on federal highways. Workers will be required to wear high visibility clothing and products to protect them from motorists and other construction hazards. As new chemicals and other products are examined by federal agencies, new safety measures are required to protect workers from exposure.
Hazard Identification
The basis for drafting regulations comes from an industry-wide survey of hazard identification. Obviously, problems have to be investigated before new rules or products can be created. However, with the growth of industry hygienists and safety commissions, and in light of recent disasters such as major refinery accidents, identifying potential hazards on the job has seen increased focus and attention from within the industry as well as by external groups. Classes of potential harm have been expanded and applied to more industries as well. Today, blood-borne pathogens and infectious diseases are present in every work environment, not just hospitals. Clothing, PPE, and supplies designed to prevent the spread of disease and pathogens have been one area of higher demand.