The PPE tools market is very different right now than it was 5 year ago. There was a clear distinction between the manufacturers and the distributors in the minds of the business to business circles and the business to customers circle. During the course of the last 5 years the distinction between the manufacturers and the distributors has been growing thinner and now the distinction no longer exists. The companies involved in the PPE tools market are many in number spread across the entire market place. Some of the companies are manufacturing or distributing the entire range of products covered in this report and some of the companies are manufacturing or distributing only particular products from the list of products covered in this report.
Regulatory Mandates Opening Up New Market Opportunities:
Following the trend of better protection on the job, basic work clothing is being replaced in some jobs by other garments. Due to the observed hazards in certain types of work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have issued regulations to use the appropriate tools and equipments. In 1992, OSHA 29 CFR 1910.119 instructed employers in the chemical and petroleum industry to ensure that their employees use protective equipments. In January 1995, OSHA put into effect CFR 1910.269, which clearly requires the use of FR apparel for electrical utilities. These two regulations, along with the aforementioned NFPA 70E rulings, have virtually created markets, and continue to motivate demand as more companies come into compliance.
The Need for New Strategies and Practice:
The selected PPE Equipment market is a combination of many segments, with predominant portion of the revenues coming from PPE kits as well as arc flash bibs, hoods, and shields. However, their revenues are affected by recent regulatory changes, which have been discussed later on. Most of them are manufactured either inland or overseas, and are widely sourced by safety and industrial distributors as well as the rental laundries. The two most lucrative vertical industries for PPE tools and equipment market are the petrochemical/refining and electrical utility sectors. Arc resistant rainwear in the electrical utilities industry is the largest within the PPE equipment categories examined. Arc flash bibs, hoods, and shields are high NFPA 70E compliance items throughout all verticals.
Benefits of this Service:
Regulatory Mandates Opening Up New Market Opportunities
Following the trend of better protection on the job, basic work clothing is being replaced in some jobs by other garments. Due to the observed hazards in certain types of work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has issued regulations to use the appropriate tools and equipments.
Increasing Safety Awareness:
Education and awareness are a continual theme in protective clothing. In order to sell new products, manufacturers must make it known to the end users that a particular product exists and why it is needed.
Fear of Fine:
This is particularly important to owners who, when they sign their Sarbanes-Oxley documents, cannot avoid the responsibility for knowing what is going on within their organizations.
Desire to Minimize Worker Downtime:
No company, large or small, can regularly afford the hidden costs associated with lost worker productivity. In extreme cases, costs can also include hiring and training additional workforce to fill in for those who are laid up from nonfatal injuries as well as have met fatal accidents.
