FEATURE PPE


THE CHANGING WORKWEAR LANDSCAPE Quality PPE matters for safety footwear Colin Blair, global quality director at Honeywell


The pace at which the needs of workwear end-users develop has never been more rapid than it is today, and this factor is driving some basic changes in the way that workwear manufacturers develop their businesses. Fortunately for Ballyclare, the approach the company has traditionally taken has allowed it to stay ahead of the game. Forward-looking manufacturers like Ballyclare are devoting


increasing resources to research and development. The key to success here is for that research to be driven by the needs of the customer. An example of this is Ballyclare’s range of high- visibility garments which were created in response to customer requirements. This helped the company secure a major new contract to supply Network Rail. Similarly, Ballyclare’s new Xenon range of firefighter garments were designed, right from basic principles, in response to input from customers. The Xenon garments also illustrate another recent change in approach, as workwear manufacturers are now seeking fresh ideas from unlikely sources. When planning the Xenon basics, Ballyclare took inspiration from premium quality outdoor sportswear, and the way that it provides the wearer with maximum freedom of movement. Applying these same design techniques allowed the company to reduce the uncomfortable bulk often associated with firefighting PPE and provide maximum freedom of movement. If there is one feature of the workwear market that can be


relied on, it is the fact that it will continue to change at a rapid rate. More and more customers are realising that high-quality garments provide better and more cost-effective performance. There is also a move away from the idea of discarding a garment once it is dirty. Ballyclare anticipate that many organisations will look to provide employees with high quality garments that can be laundered repeatedly. This trend will put manufacturers who can provide quality garments and reliable laundry services in a strong position. It will be no surprise either if customers continue to demand increasingly bespoke workwear solutions. Customers are regularly requesting individual logos, corporate colours, hi vis safety materials and bespoke sizes, and this requires manufacturers to be flexible and able to respond rapidly to such requests.


Ballyclare www.ballyclarelimited.com SELF-RETRACTING LIFELINE


A newly launched self-retracting lifeline (SRL) from MSA Safety is the first on the market to include an inbuilt retraction dampener which allows the user to release the cable safety via controlled retraction. This prevents potential injury to the user and damage to the main body of the unit. It also offers safe operation and a reduction in costs and downtime. In addition to the inbuilt dampener, the V-TEC benefits from patented radial energy absorbing technology which ensures control over any force exerted on it. Together, the radial energy absorber and dampener translate the latest technology into ease of use, inspection and maintenance. A clear outer casing allows instant inspection and peace of


mind, while the radial energy absorber requires no calibration or adjustment before use. The V-TEC SRL is made using stainless steel and engineered plastics for great durability and, when necessary, its cable, energy absorber and retraction dampener can all be quickly replaced on site. A choice of galvanised or stainless cables, is available to meet the needs of different situations.


MSA Safety 10 AUTUMN 2017 | INDUSTRIAL COMPLIANCE gb.msasafety.com


Industrial Safety, discusses why recent findings on safety footwear testing are an example of how a


reassessment of quality standards is key to ensuring that workers rely on equipment that is entirely fit for purpose


D


ue to replace the existing Directive 89/686/EEC on 21 April 2018,


Regulation (EU) 2016/425 sets common quality standards for PPE in all Member States. Unlike the Directive, it will apply to the entire supply chain who will have to ensure that any new products they release to the EU market are recertified to retain the CE classification. One of the key changes will be the introduction of a five- year validity period for EU Type Examination Certificates. When a manufacturer renews certificates for their products, they will need to make sure these meet the latest industry standard – typically from the EN or ISO series. Having periodic reassessments is key to ensuring high levels of accuracy in measuring PPE performance and protecting workers more effectively. This is because PPE technology continuously evolves and testing methods need to be updated accordingly. In recent years, safety shoes with


composite toecaps have become very popular among workers across industries, offering a comfortable and lightweight alternative to their metal counterparts. However, the existing impact and compression test that this type of footwear currently has to undergo to meet the EN ISO 20345:2011 standard, which was originally designed to assess the performance of metal footwear, is not always accurate when it comes to composite toecap technology. The test measures the clearance that is


left under the toecap as a result of impact caused by falling objects and compression caused by rolling objects. If there is less than 14mm left between the toecap and insole the test is failed. New research conducted by Honeywell has found that the very same model of shoes would sometimes show discrepancies of up to 9mm when tested by different notifying bodies, meaning that some footwear that has been deemed fit for purpose may not guarantee full protection. These findings demonstrate that PPE


testing methods should be reassessed on a regular basis. With this in mind, manufacturers like Honeywell are implementing new internal testing processes that often go beyond current regulatory requirements. For example,


Honeywell Industrial Safety


whereas the EN ISO 20345:2011 standard requires only one data point per toecap size (S, M, L), Honeywell is checking every shoe size individually, increasing the number of positive tests and reducing the margin of error to only 2mm. The tests are conducted in partnership with the CTC (Centre Technique du Cuir), selected by Honeywell as the most consistent notified body in Europe in terms of test results. The new Regulation’s focus on more regular recertification will ensure that PPE undergoes the most up-to-date quality assessment procedures. On the manufacturing side, there is the opportunity through quality control processes and methodologies – such as the Honeywell Operating System (HOS) - to constantly find new ways of reducing variability. This is key to products such as footwear that are largely manufactured by hand. It is vital to ensure that every step of the process undergoes constant assessment and that suppliers of materials meet stringent performance requirements. There is also an opportunity for R&D


teams to look at the entry point of standards and use specialty materials to create products that build in a level of redundancy to not only meet quality requirements, but go beyond them. For example, Honeywell has worked on improving the shape and performance of its composite toecaps, developing new design and reinforced materials. As a result, there has been a 14 per cent increase in clearance upon compression in comparison with current standards. In seeking to protect their workers, what safety managers are always looking for is confidence. Knowing that the products their colleagues are using have a greater level of protection than standards require gives them more assurance that the PPE is entirely fit for purpose while giving workers greater degrees of comfort and protection than an off-the-shelf solution. Ultimately, PPE is the last line of defence and workers want to have confidence that they are being sufficiently protected, while employers want to make sure that they are investing in a product that will protect their greatest asset: their people.


www.honeywellsafety.com / INDUSTRIALCOMPLIANCE


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