Market Trends of US Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Industry
Hand Protection Segment to Acquire a Significant Share
- Injuries to the fingers, hand, and wrist are among the most common workplace injuries in the United States. According to the U.S. BLS, hand injuries at work account for more than 20% of all workplace injuries. While most common hand injuries include small lacerations and punctures, the risk of amputation or loss of limb function is high.
- Also, as per the U.S. BLS, 43% of hand injuries occur in the manufacturing, mining, and agriculture / forestry / fishing industries, though hand hazards are prevalent in different types of work, ranging from assembling electrical vehicles to maintaining wind turbines.
- Hand protection made for specific workplace applications can prevent many of these hand injuries. Protective equipment for the hand can include gloves, finger guards, and arm coverings.
- Moreover, according to OSHA Standard 1910.138 on hand protection, employers are needed to select and mandate employees to use appropriate hand protection when their hands are exposed to hazards like those from skin absorption of harmful substances, severe cuts or lacerations, severe abrasions, chemical burns, and thermal burns, among others.
- Further, using new materials gives hand-protection manufacturers opportunities to innovate. These materials include biodegradables that break down significantly faster than previous compounds used in disposable gloves. Innovations also extend to durable gloves, which include a liquid additive, polyborodimethylsiloxane, that hardens on impact. The material creates a protective coating over thermoplastic rubber that can make gloves stronger and more flexible without making them thicker.
Understand The Key Trends Shaping This Market
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Manufacturing End-User to Grow at a Fast Rate
- Workers are commonly susceptible to hazardous air quality if they work in the manufacturing industry. In these industries and others, respiratory hazards can include gases like ammonia and carbon monoxide, vapors like gasoline and chloroform, dust, including coal and grain particles, and fumes caused by welding and smelting.
- Exposure to atmospheres that have the presence of hazardous concentrations of contaminants can result in both chronic and acute health problems. Long-term exposure to lead might result in brain damage. Lead exposure is primarily related to welding activities.
- Thus, for business owners and managers in the manufacturing industry, providing a safe working environment for employees is a paramount concern. A big component of workplace safety is ensuring that workers are outfitted with high-quality protective gear and clothing and personal protective equipment (PPE).
- The United States has one of the largest manufacturing industries in the world. Moreover, the sector is among the most significant contributors to the country's growth. For instance, as per NIST, manufacturing contributed USD 2.3 trillion to the country's GDP in 2021, 12.0 % of the total U.S. GDP.
- Moreover, PPE sales are expected to rebound as the manufacturing industry continues to bounce back from challenging market conditions. Also, as per US BLS, in April 2023, manufacturing sector employment in the country increased by about 11,000 compared to the previous month. Such trends indicate the growing demand for PPE in the region.
