Economies all over the world, especially those of developing countries, are undertaking large-scale construction activities. This has created more operational hazards and the need to protect personnel from them. Governments in most countries have established regulations in order to ensure the safety of employees, which has in turn boosted the growth of the personal protective equipment (PPE) market. Analysts at Technavio predict that this market will register a CAGR of around 8% by 2020.
PPE is a blanket term for protective gear, which includes clothing, helmets, goggles and other equipment that provides the first line of defense against bodily injuries and infections. PPE applies to several industries including manufacturing, chemicals, construction, oil and gas, food, and pharmaceuticals.
Factors driving the PPE market
The recent trend of the increased participation of females in Africa’s mining and other labor intensive industries has fueled the growth of the PPE market. As global policies are becoming more employee / labor friendly, compliance to safety norms and the adoption of PPE in workplaces has also grown tremendously. Regulatory bodies like OSHA and the International Safety Equipment Association not only develop safety standards, but also monitor compliance to these standards on a regular basis.
Construction industry and PPE
It comes as no surprise that the construction industry has the highest rate of workplace injuries, which is why the use of proper PPE is critical. 2015 saw the global construction market grow by 2.7% in real growth terms, and the coming years will witness increased investments in the industry, especially in the APAC region.
The equipment used in the construction industry is designed to protect the head, face, and skin, and to help workers avoid developing respiratory problems. The most widely used PPE includes protective helmets, goggles, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear, safety harnesses and, when necessary, respiratory protective equipment. Since the global construction industry is growing at an uneven rate, the focus of PPE vendors differs by region, with a growing preference for the Middle East, Africa, and APAC. These three regions are undergoing large-scale expansion in the energy sector as well as the construction industry. Likewise, Central and South America, along with Western Europe have recently increased their spending on PPE due to investments in infrastructure and a growing number of housing projects.
Since construction involves activities such as repair, demolition, erection, painting, earth moving, digging, drilling, and blasting, user compliance in the construction industry is higher compared with other industries. At the same time, the degree of specialization in PPE products for this industry is quite low, which is why a wide range of safe and low-cost products are now being made available on the market.
Want to learn more about the industry segmentation of the PPE market?
View the 2016-2020 Global Personal Protective Equipment Market Report
