In This Issue

22 Companies Commit Medical Resources to Fight Ebola (Ansell, 3M and Kimberly-Clark)

 

Direct Relief, the only U.S. nonprofit to obtain Verified Accredited Wholesale Distributor (VAWD) certification by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, announces a wave of corporate contributions in response to critical shortages of personal protective equipment and medical supplies at health facilities on the frontlines of the Ebola outbreak. Direct Relief has rapidly mobilized 40 tons of essential medical supplies and protective equipment for health workers responding to Ebola. 

Safework Australia provides guidelines to identify various asbestos work procedures or tasks and the required respirator options and filter types. With its four new kits, 3M provides a convenient respiratory solution for tasks involving asbestos.

The recent amendment to the Saskatchewan Employment Act includes the introduction of Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S) Summary Offence Ticketing (SOT) program.  Under this program, Occupation Health Officers levy tickets for infractions which compromise workplace safety in high-risk environments against employees, contractors, and employers. This program came into effect, after a year delay, on July 1, 2014. 

Respiratory Protection, Protective Gloves, and Gas Detection Markets are Likely to Exhibit the Highest Future Growth in PPE Market

 

Although the mining industry is not the main focus for most PPE companies due to current economic conditions, a strong foothold in this vertical is essential to benefit from the long-term growth prospects. Product differentiation and the establishment of broad distribution networks to offer proximity to customers are expected to be crucial competitive factors in this market. 

Helmet Technology Combines Human Performance and Polymer Science

Researchers at the University of Southern Mississippi have joined forces to create high performance head protection materials, by combining the efforts of the School of Human Performance and Recreation and the School of Polymers and High Performance Materials.
 

Synthetic Bones May Help in Search for Shock Wave Defense 

 

Army researchers are creating synthetic cranial bones that look and behave like the skulls of 20 and 30-year old soldiers that will be tested in laboratory experiments that mimic combat-like blast events in hopes of improving military helmet pads, shells, and other protective equipment. 

VF is a founding member of the Alliance for Bangladesh Worker Safety, a legally binding, five-year commitment to transparent, results-oriented, measurable and verifiable actions to improve the safety of the Bangladeshi ready-made garment factories. The Alliance hosted the country's first-ever International Trade Expo for Building and Fire Safety in Dhaka with nearly 3,000 vendors, factory owners and safety experts to increase access to affordable, high-quality safety equipment and expertise.

Please feel free to send me any pertinent information you would like to share in the MID, such as company events and important announcements. Be sure to let me know if you have any feedback via email: Lbaugh@safetyequipment.org.

Sincerely,
Lydia Baugh

Communications Director/ MID Editor

International Safety Equipment Association