Leading PPE suppliers share their thoughts on the PPE market and offer advice on the selection of the correct product
Daryl Johnson, regional sales manager Gulf region, JSP Safety said the company has unsurprisingly seen a major increase in demand for all of its COVID-19-related protective products. Much of this demand is seen in its disposable masks range, and also in semi disposables, as well as in a surge in the use of PAPR (Powered Air Purifying Respiratory systems), he commented. Eye and face protection, and socially distancing products such as cones and barriers have also seen an increase.
“With ‘PPE’ being front page news, the awareness of PPE protection overall has increased in both industrial and commercial markets, and PPE manufacturing worldwide has become incredibly important to meet the current demands to combat the virus,” Johnson said.
“The importance of increasing our manufacturing capabilities globally and local stocking of PPE products has become apparent during this crisis. This, in turn, has highlighted the importance of using correct and appropriate PPE, not only in the workplace, but in our everyday lives, and this looks set to continue for some time to come.
“We have seen an increase in substandard/non-compliant products coming into the market as a global trend, in part due to the increased demand, and some opportunistic companies and individuals trying to take advantage of this situation. Many sub-standard disposable masks have been introduced into the GCC region and we are aware that the KN95, which has not been deemed acceptable to EN standards, is creeping into hospitals and clinics in the UAE, which is a cause for concern. Purchasers need to make sure they do their due diligence, by checking the certification and contacting third party certification companies or notified bodies to confirm their authenticity.”
Adil Afzal, customer marketing manager, MSA Safety Middle East, stated that the company has seen a significant increase in demand for integrated head and face protection – safety helmets that can integrate with spectacles and visors.
“Since the pandemic we have seen a definite trend towards customers preferring this to separate, individual items of PPE. As workers get used to a ‘new normal’ we expect this trend to continue,” he said.
“From a practical workplace perspective, issuing workers with a single integrated safety helmet and visor/over glasses solution offers several advantages. Our VGard 950 is doing really well at the minute in the context of this integrated protection. We developed it in conjunction with 250 businesses and it was beta tested with more than 300 workers. It is the lightest helmet of its category on the market.”
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