For workers who wear protective clothing, getting dressed for the workday is serious business. Take a construction worker performing night work, for example. High-visibility clothing can help him be seen by motorists. Or, think of an electrical worker. Wearing proper flame-resistant clothing can help protect against arc flashes and burns. There are countless other examples but the point is clear: Protective clothing is crucial to helping workers stay safe. What's new The word "comfort" comes up a lot when talking about protective clothing – and for good reason. Industry insiders often note that without comfort, workers are less inclined to wear protective clothing. Bob Gates, product manager – clothing, at Latham, NY-based Protective Industrial Products Inc., states that new technologies are now available that help provide greater comfort to workers. "These new technologies include improved fabric treatments that offer better moisture transfer and breathability while providing protection from the elements," Gates said. "And, since these new technologies are used in lighter-weight and more durable garments, they help to ensure that workers who require the use of protective clothing will actually wear it when the need exists." Education is key Taking care of protective clothing is important, as is understanding how to do so. Gates said that a common issue regarding protective clothing is a lack of understanding of the hazards a specific piece of clothing is intended for. He recommends education. "Training is the key to resolving these issues so that workers understand that they must properly care for garments according to manufacturers' instructions," Gates said. "They must also understand that just because an incident has never happened before does not mean that it will never happen." Gates also noted that OSHA now requires training on proper laundering techniques if an employer relies on workers to clean their own protective clothing at home. Workers also must know how to inspect their home-laundered protective clothing to ensure it does not need repair or replacement, he added.
Joseph Milot III, director of product management, Protective Industrial Products Inc. (PIP), discusses eyewear and protective clothing trends for 2020.
For protective clothing, there’s been an i…
Nora Kirby, national account manager for Protective Industrial Products (PIP), weighs in on why switching to reusable PPE is a favorable alternative to using disposables amid the global pandemic.
With disposable PPE in…
Protective Industrial Products in Latham, New York, added 100 employees and expanded its presence in the food, drug and retail sectors when it acquired ear plug maker Hearos LLC of California last week.
"We are a lea…
Approximately 22 million workers are exposed to potentially damaging noise on the job every year, according to OSHA. Damaging noise can result in noise-induced hearing loss – something that OSHA no…
Protective Industrial Products in Latham, New York has acquired Century Glove Inc. in Summerville, Georgia.
It is the 20th acquisition for Joe Milot since 1984 when he had a disagreement with his bosse…
Bridget Milot remembers waking up in the middle of the night to the sound of invoices rolling across the fax machine when she was a little girl.
She was 12 years old the first time her father, Joe Milot…
Bridget Milot believes that big data and a bigger information technology department will position Protective Industrial Products to gain a larger share of the market for safety goggles, hard hats and gl…
Hearing loss is preventable. Why, then, is it still so common? NIOSH notes that occupational hearing loss is one of the most common work-related illnesses in the United States. And according to OSHA, ap…
In 2014, nearly 24,000 eye injuries involving days away from work occurred, the Bureau of Labor Statistics states. Workplace-related eye injuries can have lasting and devastating consequences. However, th…
A rebound in the automotive and construction industries have helped Joe Milot's company double its revenue over the last five years.Milot is founder and president of Protective Industrial Products Inc., a …
During the STAFDA 2015 Convention on Nov. 9 in Phoenix, AZ, the event's general session that morning included a "state of the industry" report on personal protective products from Robin Roberts, Vice Pr…
The Specialty Tools and Fasteners Distributors Association recently announced the keynote speakers and theme for this year's 39th Annual STAFDA Convention and Trade Show, held Nov. 8-10 in Phoenix.STAFDA…
Protective Industrial Products has named Sean Weil as the Latham, New York-based manufacturer's new chief financial officer.Protective Industrial supplies hard hats, work gloves, safety goggles and refl…
A manufacturer in New York's Capital Region will take over the street-front offices at the headquarters of Plug Power Inc., the Latham, NY fuel-cell maker.By year's end, Protective Industrial Products…
PIP was recently honored for outstanding achievement in winning the Affiliated Distributors 2012 Supplier of the Year - Performance Award. To be recognized as a top performer in this esteemed group of…