Catherine Christie speaks to leading manufacturers about the latest trends and technologies in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that will be on show at Expoprotection 2012
Expoprotection, the biannual
showcase for innCatherine Christie speaks to leading manufacturers about the latest trends and technologies in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that will be on show at Expoprotection 2012
Expoprotection, the biannual
showcase for innovation and
trends in risk prevention and
management, takes place at a new venue
this year - the Porte de Versailles
Exhibition Centre in Paris from 4th to
7th December 2012. Ahead of the show,
HSM explores the new developments in
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
that will be displayed in Hall 7.2:
Respiratory protective
equipment (RPE)
Respiratory protective equipment (RPE)
that is used incorrectly can be as
ineffective as using no RPE at all. In
response, 2012 has seen the launch of RPE
that aims to improve correct usage and
wearer compliance through ease of use,
greater comfort and more choice.
In Powered Air Purifying Respirator
(PAPR) systems, the motor and/or battery
is typically mounted on the waist or on
top of the head. The Cleanspace2 powered
respirator from Australian manufacturer
PAFtec (Stand F94-C) however is worn
around the back of the neck and face to
maximise user mobility. Lightweight and
compact, the system weighs
approximately 600g due to the use of new
motor/impellor and battery technology.
Peter Upcott, PAFtec's director of
business development in Europe, says:
"The mask is very simple to size and fit to
each user. Respirator fit testing is
becoming more accepted as a means of
ensuring every user has the correct type
and size of respirator to meet their
individual needs."
The powered respirator also delivers air
on demand - instead of on a constant
flow basis or set flow rate. "The pressure
inside the mask is constantly monitored
(every 0.15 seconds) and CleanSpace2
matches the breathing rate of the user -
this results in a much more natural flow
of air, improving comfort," Upcott adds.
CleanSpace2 is also compatible with
existing PPE including welding helmets,
face shields, safety helmets and safety
eyewear, which enables continuous use of
the respirator and increases the likelihood
of workers wearing it.
To try to make RPE programmes
simpler to manage, the new Spirit
Powered Air Respirator from Scott Safety
(Stand J062) comes with software that
allows users or safety managers to
download an operating data log.
It provides usage information such as;
what type of headtop was used, how long
the equipment was used for or whether
any alarms sounded, warning the wearer
that there was an issue with the
equipment. The Spirit is also
programmable to meet the precise needs
of the user and the application, with the
ability to personalise equipment to suit
each individual.
Mark Andrews, product manager at
Scott Safety, adds: "Keeping lifetime costs
of equipment to a minimum is a key
consideration for many companies now.
In recognition of this, the Spirit includes a
rechargeable, long-lasting Lithium battery
and 1800 hours or three-year warranty on
the blower. It also controls the rate of
airflow so that users can maximise the
lifespan of their filters."
Safety footwear
PPE manufacturers are using new
technologies or harnessing technologies
that are traditionally used in other
industries to improve functionality,
protection and comfort in safety footwear.
Green Diamond Technology is best
known for its use in granule snow tyres
but Portwest (Stand J065) is now using
the compound's grip and traction
properties in its FD01 and FD02
TractionLite Oil and Gas Safety boots.
Portwest sales director Richard Jones
says: "A major concern within the power
generation industries, petrochemical
plants, welding processes, onshore and
offshore platforms and mining industries
is the risk of slipping. Multiple liquids and
chemicals can be handled on multi-hazard
plants, and the danger of falling on these
spillages is very high.
"The Silicium Carbide crystals (used in
Green Diamond Technology) are mixed
into the rubber compound of the sole to
achieve significantly increased friction
between the bottom of the sole and the
walking surface. By combining this
technique with the design knowledge of
the outsole lock pattern and with various
kinds of rubber (i.e. high grip, long
wear, oil resistant, anti-static,
waterproof and so on)
the end result is an
outsole with
exceptional grip
properties."
Improved comfort
is the motivation behind
the new safety shoe lining Moisture-tech
by Sympatex (Stand G04) which has been
developed in response to the heating
troubles specifically found in footwear
worn by firefighters. Based in a four layer
compound, the shoe lining's intermediate
layer wicks away moisture from the foot
to the hydrophilic membrane. The
widespread activation of the membrane is
said to provide optimal and dynamic
breathability and ensures that the
moisture is transported outwards more
quickly.
In a shoe comfort test by Empa - the
Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials
Science and Technology - Moisture-tech
was shown to offer a quicker outlet of
perspiration moisture. As a result, the feet
remain drier, which is more comfortable
while wearing the shoes. Moisture-tech is
already being used by Spanish safety
footwear manufacturer Panter.
Protective clothing:
Chemical
Higher category protection and
ergonomic design provide the dual
innovation in the Tyvek Classic Xpert
coverall from DuPont (Stand F79).
DuPont's Andrew Wilkins explains:
"Trends and developments in protective
coveralls are towards achieving greater
comfort and their perception as a 'second
skin'. This would maximise worker
efficiency (more comfort, more
productive) as well as the acceptance of
employees towards wearing them. Endusers
are also becoming more and more
safety conscious."
The new coverall, which is suitable for
working with harmful sprays, hazardous
materials and working at the scene of a
crime, offers the highest level of
protection in the Type 5/6 category. The
composition of ultra-fine continuous
fibres of high density polyethylene also
gives Tyvek Classic Xpert strength and
flexibility without compromising on the
coverall's lightweight properties.
Ergonomic improvements reduce
exposure risk while improving fit, comfort
and flexibility. New features
include a hood to fit the contours of the
face and neck, while the sleeves have been
designed to ensure that they won't ride up
- even during overhead work - meaning
that uncomfortable thumb loops are no
longer required.
High visibility
Industrially launderable fabrics are
gaining ground in workwear, with
Germany seen as a key market for growth.
For high visibility workwear undergoing
an industrial wash however, the fabric
must not only withstand the high
temperature processes used by
commercial laundries but also any
reflective tape used on the garment if it is
to remain fit-for-purpose.
To meet demand ORAFOL (Stand
F061) has launched a full range of
reflective trims for garments that can
withstand the abrasive nature of industrial
laundering.
"All of the products have been certified
by a notified test body to the industrial
wash standard ISO:15797 and field-tested
in leasing companies throughout Europe
to ensure the highest quality," Jean-
Philippe Roy from ORAFOL says.
A key trend is to offer a wider variety
of trims to match all budgets. The range
from ORAFOL includes both
microprismatic products such as GP370
as well as more economical glass bead
technologies including GP 090, which can
withstand up to 50 industrial wash cycles
with tunnel finisher or tumble drying.
Waterproof/breathable
Polartec (Stand H66) claims to have
come up with its biggest invention since
the fleece in the early 1980s: Polartec
Neoshell is said to be the first waterproof
(10000mm water column) fabric to be air
permeable (2 l/m2/s), improving wearer
comfort by allowing perspiration to dry
faster.
The waterproof fabric is constructed
from Polartec lamination technology and
a new hydrophobic, microporous
polyurethane membrane. The use of submicron
fibres in the membrane creates
more air space than in traditional
membrane constructions, allowing air
exchange to achieve the high level of
breathability in the fabric. The largest
customer base for Polartec Neoshell is
jackets for the outdoor market but the
fabric is also suitable for outdoor workers.
Polartec's Ben Whalley says: "There is
obviously a strong pressure on price due
to the economic crisis but people are
ready to pay a premium when it increases
the efficiency of workers."
In the near future, Polartec predicts that
the market for waterproof/breathable
clothing will become more polarised.
"Lower priced goods will be on one side
and highly innovative products for very
specific/niche needs on the other side,"
Whalley adds. "The average product that
does a bit of everything for a medium
price will disappear."
Flame retardant
KERMEL (Stand F70), the manufacturer
of meta-aramid fibres for flame and heat
resistant protective clothing, has
introduced a new solution for pilots that
combines multi-functionality with a
specific solution to meet the wearer's
precise needs.
Communication manager Veronique
Chanel says: "Our KERMEL R-GO7
flight coveralls are specifically adapted to
the different activities of pilots. Made
from new Kermel fabrics, which are
inherently non-flammable, they offer
thermal insulation, mechanical resistance
and a high level of comfort. The
combination of these key properties in a
single garment is the latest trend in this
market whereas some other garments
can offer only one of these
characteristics."
