| Today's changing industries are putting higher | | | | existence. Old chemicals that were once thought |
| demands on manufacturers to produce high | | | | to be benign now need to be protected against. |
| quality industrial supplies and apparel. Being fueled | | | | The Right to Know Program and resulting material |
| by government and industry regulations, | | | | safety data sheets have created additional |
| standards are increasing for safe work practices | | | | demand for high quality apparel and equipment to |
| and performance industrial supplies along with | | | | mitigate dangers. |
| personal protective equipment (PPE) and apparel. | | | | Offering Versatile Protection With Industrial |
| As industries continue to grow and expand their | | | | Apparel |
| scope of work, comprehensive solutions are | | | | Industry operates in a wide array of conditions |
| required to meet business needs. In addition, | | | | and environments, all requiring their own unique |
| science and industry continue to develop new | | | | set of solutions. Whether it is highly dangerous |
| type of industrial apparel to provide protection | | | | environments that might have radiation or nuclear |
| against newly recognized hazards. | | | | waste, all the way to common dangers such as |
| Let us take a look at how these changing factors | | | | extreme temperature, fire hazards, chemical |
| have spurred higher demand for quality apparel, | | | | exposure, and electrical arc, industrial supplies have |
| tools, equipment, and supplies. | | | | to be up to the task at hand. |
| The Regulatory World | | | | Fires will continue to be a major source of injuries |
| Regulations are constantly being created, revised, | | | | and accidents. Industrial supplies are created with |
| and implemented. Hazards are classified and | | | | safeguards to prevent fires, but workers should |
| ranked and then have mandates about the best | | | | also be wearing flame-resistant industrial apparel in |
| method to mitigate and prevent them. Industrial | | | | any jobsite that has the potential for flash fires or |
| supplies play a big part in maintaining federal, | | | | electrical fires. Flame-resistant clothing is designed |
| state, and industry compliance with best practices. | | | | to flake away when exposed to high |
| Personal protective equipment is the cornerstone | | | | temperatures, rather than melt to the skin like |
| of safe jobsites after engineering solutions and | | | | polyester or continue to burn like cotton. |
| work practices. | | | | Insulation and protective barriers are essential in |
| One example of new federal regulations coming | | | | many industries. Waterproof clothing, splash suits, |
| into effect in the near future will cover road | | | | and other chemically resistant industrial apparel are |
| crews working on federal highways. Workers will | | | | used in wet working conditions and in every |
| be required to wear high visibility clothing and | | | | chemical industry. Insulation is also vital for |
| products to protect them from motorists and | | | | outdoor jobsites. Work with energized equipment, |
| other construction hazards. As new chemicals and | | | | meaning welder's gloves or leather-work gloves |
| other products are examined by federal agencies, | | | | should be standard issue on every jobsite. |
| new safety measures are required to protect | | | | Growth In Industry |
| workers from exposure. | | | | Even in the face of a recession, industry is still |
| Hazard Identification | | | | growing; stimulus programs and cheap credit have |
| The basis for drafting regulations comes from an | | | | spurred more construction jobs. Basic laws of |
| industry-wide survey of hazard identification. | | | | supply and demand dictate that industrial supplies |
| Obviously, problems have to be investigated | | | | will rise in demand as new jobs are created. |
| before new rules or products can be created. | | | | Construction, public safety, and public utilities are all |
| However, with the growth of industry hygienists | | | | expanding and generating demand for high |
| and safety commissions, and in light of recent | | | | performance supplies and protective industrial |
| disasters such as major refinery accidents, | | | | apparel. New jobs created with federal money |
| identifying potential hazards on the job has seen | | | | also come with the stipulation that contractors |
| increased focus and attention from within the | | | | adhere to government regulations on safety, |
| industry as well as by external groups. Classes of | | | | further generating demand for products. |
| potential harm have been expanded and applied to | | | | In the long term, demand is being created by a |
| more industries as well. Today, blood-borne | | | | growth in industry, new regulations and compliance |
| pathogens and infectious diseases are present in | | | | laws, the identification of new hazards and |
| every work environment, not just hospitals. | | | | chemical agents, and a general increase in |
| Clothing, PPE, and supplies designed to prevent the | | | | awareness in how high performance products, |
| spread of disease and pathogens have been one | | | | supplies, and personal protective equipment are |
| area of higher demand. | | | | necessary for safe jobsites and overall worker |
| As new products and processes are invented and | | | | safety. |
| implemented, new regulatory bodies come into | | | | |