Promotion of Alternative-Sized Personal Protective Equipment

Details

• Personal Author:
  DeLaney SC ; Flynn MA ; Keller B
• Description:
  Introduction: With more diversity in the workforce, companies are producing PPE such as hard hats, safety glasses, coveralls, foot protection, and safety harnesses for a larger range of body shapes and sizes. However, gray literature reports suggest that barriers exist to getting alternate sized PPE from the manufacturer to the workers who need it. The purpose of this study is to determine the extent to which alternative-sized PPE is marketed. Method: A web-based review of seven major manufacturers of PPE was conducted to determine: (a) whether or not they offer alternative-sized products, (b) if these products are clearly labeled, and (c) if images used to display PPE are representative of a diverse workforce. Results: Of the seven PPE manufacturers investigated, six had at least one product that was marketed as gender and/or size alternatives however, alternative sizes were more common for larger body types. Alternative-sized products rarely included size charts, and the models used to display PPE were overwhelmingly white males of average size. Conclusions: Despite the growing availability of alternative-sized PPE, it can be difficult to find these products, which suggests that they are rarely promoted or labeled as alternative-sized. Our study indicates that companies should expand their product lines and more aggressively market and promote these items. Guidance on how to properly fit their products would also be extremely helpful to the end-user. Practical applications: Manufacturers could improve the availability of alternative-sized PPE and increase their promotion of these products on their websites and in their catalogs. Individual companies and safety professionals may assist in this process by demonstrating demand for alternative-sized PPE. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Demography Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Safety
• Keywords:
  Anthropometry Author Keywords: Translation Research Demographic Characteristics Diversity Future Of Work Marketing Occupational Safety And Health Personal Protective Equipment PPE Safety Equipment Sizing Translational Research Workforce Diversity

  More +
• ISSN:
  0022-4375
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Alaska ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  EID - Education and Information Division
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  43-46
• Volume:
  63
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20050371
• Citation:
  J Safety Res 2017 Dec; 63:43-46
• Contact Point Address:
  Michael A. Flynn, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1090 Tusculum Ave. M/S C-10, Cincinnati, OH 45226, United States
• Email:
  mflynn@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2018
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Safety Research
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:0038296782930671d7554d2dcc1186e6cba4c9de03c16766f3d0cc5ceb0cd5d5adf368755746f259b9d47d12d516cbe84223e77c7129d2cd25842a4e10724cda
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/210746/cdc_210746_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 257.58 KB ]