PPB January 2020

by Danielle Renda Sa f e t y Gea r Inside The Safety Zone Providing workers with top-rated protective gear ensures they are safe on the job, and communicates a company’s safety commitment to consumers, prospective clients and competitors. E mployees trust the companies they work for to keep them safe. It’s an expectation that has transpired across all industries and workplace environments in the U.S. since the OSH Act was passed in 1970, which calls for employers to provide employees with a safe working environment that is void of known dangers, and, ultimately, to prevent injury from occurring. Although it is absolutely crucial for employees to be and feel safe at all times in the workplace, employees who work predominately from a desk are unlikely to be exposed to the same hazards as construction workers, oil and gas workers, electricians or mechanics. Workers in more physically demanding, labor-intensive environments may be exposed to or work in extreme heat or cold, use power tools or operate heavy equipment, work with chemicals or hazardous substances, or work in high-risk areas, like high-traffic zones or on high-rise building scaffolds. To ensure that workers can perform their jobs safely and effectively, companies must provide themwith the necessary protective equipment. And that’s where promotional products come in. 18 | JANUARY 2020 | INNOVATE