The Benefits of Custom PPE
Most of your PPE needs can be covered by products that are common in the marketplace. If you have workers handling sharp metal, you get them a standard cut-resistant glove. Pipefitters probably need an impact glove. But not every hazard or job fits into a neat category with easy-to-find PPE. In fact, some jobs and even some workers need new products invented just for them. That’s where custom PPE comes in.
Extra Features & Combining Features
Gloves tend to wear out in places that come in contact with abrasive or sharp materials. But rather than buying large quantities of gloves and going through them quickly, safety managers can buy customized gloves with special add-ons to address their specific wear-points. Others find manufacturers who can combine various products to keep workers safer and even save money – such as creating FR jackets with cut-resistant sleeves attached. Sometimes, the nature of a job like working in very high heat or cold environments may require customizations. And while this may be a new idea to some, glove manufacturers have actually been creating specialized gloves for decades.
“Back in the 1970s, we spoke to steel workers who were getting burns through their heat resistant gloves. We added an aluminum liner to the gloves to reflect the heat. These were guys who had scars all over the backs of their hands from working in the heat their whole lives. The addition worked so well, the workers wouldn’t even give me back the samples!”
Special Workers
Manufacturers produce products in a standard range of sizes. That’s economical, and it suits most people. But it leaves larger, smaller, and some workers with disabilities, out in the cold. Custom PPE manufacturers can take existing PPE and modify the design for people of any shape or size. That makes everyone safer as workers who can’t find PPE to fit them tend to try to make their own solutions or even work without protection. Tacking down empty glove fingers, or wearing clothing that’s too big puts your people at risk of catching material on moving machinery or sharp objects.
“We were contacted about a worker who needed a standard cut-resistant glove, but he needed an extended knit wrist. He was taking gloves home, cutting cuffs off of one pair and having his wife sew them onto another pair of gloves! We made specialty gloves with a longer wrist for him.”
PPE That Speaks for You
Glove imprinting is another trend that has taken off in recent years. Your company motto or a specific safety message can help remind workers to stay safe. Even a simple company logo or a glove made in your company colors can make members of your team stand out. That can be a real bonus for workers on sites with multiple contractors who don’t want to mix up their PPE.
“It actually lets workers know that their company cares. Guys know what cheap looks like, but when they see custom work on a glove to remind them to be safe, they know you’ve taken the time to invest in something a bit more.”
Never settle again!
Nothing is more important than the safety of your workers. So why settle? If you can’t find what your people need in the marketplace:
TRY A CUSTOM PPE MANUFACTURER
