9 PPE Upgrades That Will Change the Way You Work

PPE, or Personal Protective Equipment, is an important part of industrial and commercial work worldwide. It is used by a variety of professions, like manufacturing, oil and gas, and plumbing. 

That’s because it protects the workers from unwanted injuries and accidents. In addition to its protective features, organizations like OSHA in America mandate the wearing of PPE for daily work.

For example, plumbers wear disposable gloves, hard helmets, steel-toe boots, and respirators for their work. Today, however, the upgrades in technology have led to an innovation in these PPE kits.

These upgrades, if or when used, will enhance your efficiency at work. Let’s explore these upgrades below. 

Which PPE Upgrades Should You Include for Work Efficiency?

You should consider using PPE upgrades like smart helmets, AR glasses, touchscreen-resistant gloves, and smart safety boots. 

Some other upgrades you should consider are respirators with air flow control, heating and cooling workwear, high visibility gear with LED, and IoT monitoring systems. Let’s explore them below. 

1. Smart Helmets 

Unlike traditional protective hard helmets, smart helmets have a variety of features, which make them a must-have in your PPE kit. 

Let’s take a look at these features below.

Table 1: How Smart Helmets Can Help You During Your Work

2. Augmented Reality (AR) Safety Glasses

AR safety glasses are the kind of PPE safety gear that will change how you work on a daily basis. These glasses have many features like various sensors, a mini computer, and connectivity options.

You can also expect features like navigation control, stereo speakers, which have noise-cancellation mics. Let’s explore these features and how they will help you below. Smart AR glasses have various sensors like depth sensors, inertial measurement units, motion sensors, and LiDAR. 

3. Cut-Resistant Gloves

Using cut-resistant glove PPE equipment will help you avoid injuries from sharp objects. Now, cut-resistant gloves are made from materials like Kevlar, Dyneema, Basalt Rock, and fiberglass. 

Take a look at the table below for an idea below for an idea about the different materials and how they will protect you:

Table 2: Types of Materials From Which Cut-resistant Gloves Are Made

4. Smart Safety Boots 

Smart safety boots come equipped with various features that can be controlled via an app. 

Consider the table below for a better idea about the features:

Table 3: Features of Smart Boots

5. Next-Gen Respirators with Airflow Control

Plumbers often work in narrow or uncomfortable environments with very little air. Such environments can cause issues such as asphyxiation. But using powered air-purifying respirators (PAPR) can change that.

These products will deliver filtered air for the duration of their use, allowing you to work comfortably. They also come with a hood or helmet that covers your eyes, nose, and mouth. So you won’t accidentally inhale contaminated or polluted air when you’re working. You should use them when working in sewers with gas leaks or when soldering pipes.

6. Cooling and Heated Workwear

Cooling and heated workwear is also known as climate control workwear. This equipment will help you work in a hot and cold environment, respectively.

Cooling workwear is powered by wet and dry evaporative cooling and cold pack cooling. Wet evaporative cooling jackets absorb water or sweat like sponges do, while dry cooling vests lead to evaporation to ensure cooling. Cold pack cooling vests have pouches filled with cooling packs, which retain the temperature for as long as applicable.

Heated workwear is powered by batteries, heat-reflective technology, and infrared technology. They also have heating panels, which help maintain the heat when you work.

7. Smart Hearing Protection Devices

Using modern earplugs and earmuffs will prevent any harmful noises from causing hearing issues. They will also let you communicate with your peers easily during your work. These devices have features like passive and electronic hearing protection, Bluetooth connectivity, and moisture-repelling features.

The passive hearing protection will block the mechanical sounds in your environment, making it ideal for welding operations. Electronic hearing protection blocks the sounds in your environment while amplifying conversations. So, you can communicate easily with your peers.

You can also connect the hearing devices with your mobile devices via Bluetooth to ensure you stay connected. Finally, the moisture-repellent feature will prevent the hearing devices from slipping due to sweat. The earphones will also be protected from the environment’s moisture.

8. High-Visibility Gear with LED 

Using LED-enabled reflective gear will help you enjoy high visibility in dark environments. This visibility will help you avoid unwanted accidents, such as when fixing new pipes or cutting down old pipes.

These jackets often have LED strips, which are powered by AA or AAA batteries, depending on which manufacturer in question. Apart from their LED strips, they also have reflective strips.

The reflective strips will ensure that other professionals working near you can see you when using flashlights.

9. Recyclable & Sustainable PPE

Using PPE safety gear made from recyclable materials ensures that you reduce the amount of waste contributed to the environment. This type of PPE is made from organic fibers, biodegradable plastics, and recycled materials.

It is manufactured with the help of sustainable techniques like solar-powered factories, water-efficient methodologies, and closed-loop technologies. Closed-loop technologies convert the recycled scrap products back into usable products. Some types of PPE made from these techniques include reusable PPE masks, biodegradable gloves, and eco-friendly face shields. 

Closing Remarks

Using these upgraded PPE will help you increase your work efficiency and enhance your safety. However, the type of PPE you use will depend on which task you’re going to perform. 

For example, you will require PAPRs, smart safety boots, and high visibility gear for night operations involving constricted spaces and so on. So, you should understand which task you’re going to perform before you choose your preferred PPE.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What Are the Different Types of Cut Resistance I Can Expect From Cut-resistant PPE Gloves?

Ans. You can expect cut resistance levels from A to F from cut-resistant PPE gloves. Here, A stands for low cut resistance, while F stands for very high cut resistance.

Q2. How Long Do Kevlar or Dyneema Gloves Last?

Ans. Kevlar gloves last for 100,000 use cycles. On the other hand, Dyneema gloves last for up to 1,000,000 cycles. 

Q3. What Should I Check Before Using PAPR?

Ans. You should check that the respirator is in good condition by checking the valves, cartridges, facepiece, and harness. 

Q4. How Long Does the Battery of Smart Helmets Last?

Ans. The battery of a smart helmet will last for up to 24 hours.