The Magic of New Technology

Heres a roundup of some of the latest PPE technologies and why these claims are the new reality.

Weve all experienced new-technology skepticism. I remember when winter coats first promised an innovative type of material, not downy feathers, would keep me warm. I rubbed the thin fabric between my fingers and wonderedreally?

As safety technologies advance and companies provide better, more comfortable gear, many safety managers find themselves similarly skeptical as theyre asked to test a product that seems almost too good to be true. Heres a roundup of some of the latest PPE technologies and why these claims are the new reality.

Cooling PPE

Historically, there have been two types of cooling PPE. First, you have cooling towels, bandanas, and other wearables that feel cold and refreshing when you put them on. Unfortunately, that moment of cool relief doesnt tend to last more than about ten to twenty minutes. That leaves workers hot, uncomfortable, and at higher risk for heat illness until they can cool off at their next break. An additional disadvantage with these fabrics is that they can actually add to worker discomfort with slimy-feeling chemical coatings that prolong the cool, but disappoint in total comfort. The other option is body cooling vests that dont feel especially refreshing but do help to control a workers core temperature through the day, even though they cant necessarily feel it working.

The newest technology in cooling PPE promises the best of both worldsinstant, refreshing relief and cooling that lasts for hours, not minutes. This keeps workers safer and more comfortable through their shiftall without the use of harsh chemicals. Perhaps most important of all, they also promise that the refreshing cool can be reactivated over and over again quickly, using any temperature of water.

Why believe? This technology may be the one that feels closest to a magic trick as you can pour very hot water onto the material and feel it cool down as much as 30 degrees below average body temperature in under a minute. The secret lies in advances in fabric weaving technology. Engineers found that they could strategically interlock fabric strands to leverage the natural cooling power of evaporation and multiply that effect within the material. The result is PPE that cools almost instantly, stays cool for hours and can be reactivated with any water available on the jobsiteeven water thats hot from sitting in the sun.

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The Magic of New Technology - Occupational Health and Safety