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ULE NO. 1 AT THE OCCUPATIONAL Health & Safety Administration (OSHA) reads:
“All workers have the right to workplace safety.” As a promotional consultant, it’s your job to help
provide brandable apparel solutions that protect hardworking men and women against workplace hazards.
You’re also called upon to know when safety gear could add value to a campaign or pro-
gram. While some professions are notorious for safety risks—logging, construction and
engineering, for example—bear in mind there are equally dangerous professions that don’t
get anywhere near the degree of attention for their inherent potential to cause harm.
Agricultural workers, roofers and garbage collectors all face frequent exposure to
workplace danger. Janitors and housekeeping staff commonly face injury on the job,
too, as do restaurant employees. Couriers and movers are susceptible to all manner
of injuries, from minor to severe. Even office workers can sustain long-term
damage without proper ergonomic support.
It helps to keep current on safety standards pertaining to
your clients’ industries as well. Being in the know strengthens
relations with these clients and offers selling opportunities.
“New and more stringent standards requiring higher lev-
els of protection … have been around for a few years, but
the adoption rate has been slow in some industries,” says
Jim Towey, vice president of marketing for Piscataway, New
Jersey-based supplier Tingley Rubber Corporation (UPIC:
T564919). “As industry flame-resistant standards evolve,
customers are looking for product and material solutions
that put them in compliance and are affordable.”
Suppliers are also introducing compliant clothing
that is intelligently designed and incorporates creature
comforts, such as fleece lining.
“Customers are looking for safety gear that pro-
vides more comfort and style,” Towey says. “They
want products that fit and feel like their recreational
apparel.”
For the men and women putting themselves in
harm’s way every day, a bit of comfort isn’t too
much to ask.
TAMA UNDERWOOD IS AN
ASSOCIATE EDITOR FOR
PPB
.
EYE ON APPAREL
R
WORKERS GRAVITATE TOWARD SAFETY APPAREL DESIGNED FOR COMFORT
BY TAMA UNDERWOOD
SAFE IN THE
COMFORT ZONE
INNOVATE
12 •
PPB
• JUNE 2015