PPE that has caught our eye in 2018

​Safety gear is essential to keeping workers safe from on the job hazards that can cause injuries and illnesses. PPE is not new to industry and protective gear such as hard hats, gloves, glasses, and vests have been utilized in dangerous environments for hundreds of years. Initially PPE was used to protect a person from falling objects, splatters, or spills. But technology has given us materials that can withstand high temperatures, is impervious to penetrations, and is resistant to corrosive substances. But what can the next generation of Smart PPE do for industry? Some of the leaders in safety gear have introduced new products that will take safety in the workplace into the next generation. 

1. Ergodyne Chill-Its Cooling Products
   One complaint of workers is that wearing layers of protective gear can be hot. Often heavy vests and thick helmets are needed to provide the level of protection required for workplace hazards. But Ergodyne has introduced a line of Chill-Its products that include cooling vests, absorptive caps, and cooling towels to help keep workers cool and dry. They are made of a patented material called Hi Cool that wicks away moisture for fast evaporation. The newest vests simply need to be soaked in cold water. Then as the water quickly evaporates the worker enjoys instantly cool relief. 
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2. Hexarmor VS250 Safety Glasses
   Hexarmor carries a new line of safety glasses designed to combine safety with comfort. They are anti-fog and scratch resistant, as well as provide 100% UV protection. They are also lightweight and have contoured lenses for optimal safety. They’re compliant with ANSI Z87.1 and high impact rated Z87+. Perhaps the coolest feature about these new safety glasses is the anti-fog coating, though. Hexarmor engineered this coating to be hydrophilic, which means they absorb moisture droplets as soon as they make contact with the lens, eliminating fog. 
   
   
3. UVEX Bionic Face Shield
   This lightweight face shield looks like something from a science fiction movie. But far from fiction, it’s a practical answer to rough job sites where protecting your face from debris is necessary. It is comfortable enough to wear all day in tough environments and its revolutionary design not only protects from falling objects and particles, but also from chemicals and radiation from welding. 
   
   
4. MCR Ninja Alchemy Safety Gloves
   These innovative 14” gauntlet cuff safety gloves from MCR are the newest in hand protective wear. What makes these gloves different is the unique shell and polymer combination. The gloves are fully coated in PVC with TPR on the back of the hand for extra impact protection. The outer shell consists of a double dipped PVC on a 15-gauge nylon shell. But even with these thick layers of protection they claim this protective wear offers the best in dexterity and sense of touch for safety gloves. With the waterproof coating and Actifresh treatment to prevent the growth of bioagents, these gloves are recommended for oil and gas, automotive, and agricultural industries. 

​Technology is changing how industry produces goods and services, but people are still needed for many tough and hazardous jobs. Whenever workers are put into potentially dangerous conditions, providing them with the best PPE is paramount. While protective gear has been around for centuries, the safety industry has made huge leaps to improve upon it. With new materials and processes, safety equipment is both protective from hazards and comfortable, breathable, and light weight. And as technology continues to improve, newer PPE equipment will not only protect workers but also interface and communicate with safety software to alert workers of potential hazards, provide them with hands free information about the job site, and report back analytics to a main platform. As the safety industry finds more and more ways to improve PPE through technology, workers can begin to worry less about on the job safety and focus more and getting the job done.