Five Non-Healthcare Industries with High PPE Demand

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) by the healthcare industry has increased tremendously. This demand has also impacted other industries that use PPE. As these industries form the backbone of the global economy, it is vital for them to follow safety regulations to ensure business continuity. Let’s look at a few examples.

Construction Industry

This ever-growing industry accounted for 24 per cent  of the global PPE market share in 2019, making it one of the most profitable application verticals. Employee safety is a major regulatory concern in this industry and given the increasing number of infrastructure projects globally, the PPE market has good expansion opportunities. Advanced PPE, such as hard hats, safety boots, protective wearables, eyewear protection and face shields are needed. High-visibility apparel and safety footwear are also in high demand.

Oil and Gas Industry

Frontline workers in this industry are exposed to vast amounts of lethal chemicals. While drillers and chain hands follow protection guidelines systems and use protective wearables, tool hands and other contractors also need to be legally protected from workplace accidents. As a result, the PPE required for this industry has changed in recent times. Flame-resistant clothing, hard hats, steel toecap boots and safety glasses are commonly used in oil rig locations. Another addition is the gas monitoring system, which is worn by all workers to monitor and detect hydrogen sulfide levels. Going forward, we can expect to see the product demand from the oil and gas sector grow.

Pharmaceutical Industry

Pharma employees deal with life-threatening risks as they handle harmful chemical substances and drugs, especially cytotoxic drugs, which may pose a dangerous health risk to anyone handling them. As a result, national and international organisations have put forth mandates for the industry to follow a stringent regulatory framework on sterile product manufacturing and packaging. It ensures the safety of not only the employees who handle the product at every stage but also the end consumer. As the regulatory norms become more stringent in this industry, the PPE demand will also increase.

Manufacturing Industry

There were misgivings in the industry that PPE hampers production efficiency, which reduced demand. However, there was evidence showing that the high non-compliance of PPE protocol was harming the workforce. As a result, strict regulations were set forth to ensure worker safety. PPE companies have an opportunity to develop products that balance security with productivity. 

Food and Beverage Industry

Hygiene and quality control are imperative in this industry as product contamination affects not only the shelf life and food quality but also the business’s finances, operations, and reputation. Food retailers know that not maintaining protective standards will hamper sales. Employees in the sector need PPE to ensure that the consumables handled passes the strictest hygiene standards. Given the increased demand from consumers for safe products, there is a greater need for the industry to amp up its regulations, giving the PPE industry growth opportunities.

According to a recent industry report, the PPE market is expected to reach USD 65.66 billion by 2024, with the compound annual growth rate of 6.5 per cent over the forecast period. As PPE contains practically every type of safety gear for many industries and given the dynamic nature of work environments, we can expect to see an increased demand for it. Protective wearables will also give the PPE market a significant boost.