How to Get Your Money’s Worth

PPE: How to Get Your Money’s Worth

It can be tempting to purchase a more affordable PPE option instead of the latest innovation. But new technologies and products from Magid have multiple benefits that can make these innovations the better investment for you and your workers.

By John Heniff, Safety Writer, Magid

Everyday, you hear about Magid’s new PPE innovations online, in trade magazines, and from fellow safety managers. The innovations sound great, but how do they stand out from more affordable PPE options? It can be tempting to go with a budget-friendly choice that still gives your workers the necessary protection. But innovative technologies and products have multiple benefits, some that may even go above and beyond what’s promised!

Calculate the Cost Benefit of New Technology

By definition, innovative PPE is designed with improved materials so in addition to providing the main benefit of better grip, lighter protection, etc., it can be significantly more durable and cost-effective than traditional options. Although you might be paying a bit more up front for something new, if the items last longer than an economy alternative, you can end up saving on total cost AND getting better protection and comfort. Let’s say you had to buy a new ladder for your home and you’re looking at a less expensive one that’s made from wood and another pricier version that’s made from fiberglass or aluminum. The wooden ladder will work great for quick projects around the house. But if you’re planning on using the ladder more frequently, the tougher material will be the better investment.

VersaTek™

Magid’s VersaTek™ adaptive palm coating is a great example of a new technology in grip that has the added benefit of incredible durability. VersaTek’s coating is designed with special stabilizers that amplify your workers’ grip on objects that are wet, dry, oily, or rough. In addition to this intelligent grip that can adapt to different tasks and work environments, VersaTek also surpassed 30,000 revolutions in abrasion testing — greatly exceeding the baseline to achieve a Level 6 abrasion resistance rating.

This durability helps the glove to last longer for lower total cost of ownership in the long run. Read the table below comparing an example of a top-of-the-line and economy style glove. Even though the Top-of-The-Line Glove is almost three times more expensive, its wear time is over 15x longer, which can save you $10,000 annually.

	Top-of-The-Line Glove	Economy Glove
Cost (per pair)	$7.75	$2.61
Wear Time (in hours)	63.87 (~1.6 pairs in a 40-hour work week)	4.1 (~10 pairs in a 40-hour work week)
Cost (per hour)	$0.12	$0.64
Annual Cost	$2,487	$13,050

Boost Your Environmental Sustainability

If your economy work gloves aren’t lasting through the shift and workers are discarding their gloves a few times a day, or even just at the end of the workday, your glove usage numbers start to add up at the end of the week, month, and year. We’re all looking for ways to improve environmental sustainability, or limit excessive PPE changeover. PPE innovations made with quality materials can give workers a better experience and more protection while providing longer wear-life and service time than economy models.

Make More Efficient Work Glove Choices

Most work gloves are made for a particular environment, so work done in a completely dry environment or jobs that don’t require workers to handle both wet parts and oily parts can generally get by with one type of glove or glove coating. But for workers who switch between different environments within their shift, using a single glove style and coating specific to one or two environments will make them less efficient and may even tempt them to remove their gloves to perform some tasks, putting them at risk of injury.

Here too, new technologies like VersaTek™ - with special stabilizers to enhance performance keep multi-environment workers at maximum efficiency and safety because they can assemble small parts, pick up oily and slick items, and handle rough and heavy materials easily in the same glove. No need for your workers to change their gloves to fit the task!

Add it Up: Comfort + Compliance = Safer Workers

When your workers’ PPE feels comfortable, they’ll wear it with no complaints. But when it doesn’t feel comfortable, they might take it off to provide relief, even if it puts their hands in danger during their shift. Old glove models were often made with materials that made workers’ hands itchy, sweaty, and hot, making them uncomfortable and negatively affecting their job performance. One study even reported over 70% of hand injuries occurred because workers were not wearing their gloves.

AeroDex® Gloves

Magid’s innovative AeroDex® technology keeps worker comfort in mind while meeting the highest ANSI cut protection standards. AeroDex gloves are over 50% lighter than similar gloves with equal cut protection and are available up to ANSI Cut Level A9. Along with this noticeable lightness in weight, AeroDex shells are breathable and can make your employees’ skin feel cooler as they wear them.

DX+ Technology Gloves

Similarly, Magid’s lightweight, coreless, cut-resistant DX+ Technology is 30% lighter than similar HPPE, doesn’t irritate your workers’ skin, and feels cool to the touch — all while providing cut-resistance up to ANSI Cut Level A6. Coreless technology means the glove yarn has been infused with strength-enhancing microparticles, which achieve higher cut-resistance levels without becoming uncomfortable or irritating to wear.

T-REX® Windstorm Gloves

Cut-resistant shells aren’t the only glove category that has been redesigned with comfortable innovations. Magid’s T-REX® Windstorm Series® impact gloves are designed with an integrated CoolMesh® venting system that enhances airflow up to 60% and helps dissipate heat. These gloves also have Magid's M-Flex Defense System®, which is designed with 130 integrated flex points so workers can flex their hands comfortably.

M-Power Defense System™

New impact gloves feature Magid’s M-Power Defense System™, which is designed in a honeycomb pattern for thicker deflection points as well as space in-between for dexterity. This design, rated for Level 3 Impact Protection, also has an integrated ventilation system for up to nine times more airflow to keep hands cooler, drier, and comfortable.

Analyze Your PPE Usage (With an Expert or By Yourself)

Before making a decision, it can be helpful to gather information about your jobsite’s PPE purchasing and use data. This can include:

Calculating your most recent PPE spend figures
Looking through your invoice history for costs, style numbers, sizes, and number of quantities ordered
Reviewing how long your workers’ PPE tends to last on average (whether by hour, shift, or day)

Once you have gathered all your data, you can get started finding the best solution for your workers. If you think you might need help in the process, consider inviting a professional safety expert to perform a safety assessment analysis on your jobsite. Professional safety experts can analyze and assess the data from your PPE spend and your employees’ PPE usage to help you determine what PPE will work best for your team, your facilities, and your budget.

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