Safety professionals are always interested in improvements to PPE materials as these advancements could reduce waste, enhance effectiveness and more. The following are some recent advancements to keep in mind. 

PPE advancements could reduce waste

As engineers, scientists and others develop new personal protective equipment materials, they usually have specific challenges in mind. Waste reduction is a common theme the COVID-19 pandemic threw into focus. A global analysis from the World Health Organization indicated about 87,000 tons of PPE were procured and shipped to countries between March 2020 and November 2021. The report noted that most of the equipment likely ended up as waste.

The main issue is PPE is often disposable. Relatedly, once medical professionals learned COVID-19 is highly contagious and airborne, safety specialists at hospitals and similar facilities developed procedures that discouraged the reuse of masks. People only used them more than once while coping with shortages. Even then, individuals developed systems of rotating through their mask supplies and never wearing the same one two days in a row.

Many people in the food and beverage and construction industries already have reusable PPE — most commonly, gloves. However, some masks are reusable, too, provided they’re the elastomeric type. Researchers explored how well these personal protective equipment materials worked for medical professionals, providing them with reusable options.

A trial occurred in Pennsylvania’s Allegheny General Hospital where groups of medical workers who used masks most frequently received P100 elastomeric respirators. The goal was to see whether these worked better than the present method of relying on single-use face coverings and decontaminating them between uses.

The researchers’ conservative estimate was the elastomeric options were 10 times less expensive than disposable N95 masks. Another identified advantage was the elastomeric masks last for years if properly stored. That aspect could help procurement specialists buy them in bulk during lower-demand periods, ensuring health care professionals have plenty to use during public health threats.

Find safer PPE materials

Safety managers and others who follow advancements in PPE know the importance of ensuring the products they purchase are designed for maximum effectiveness. Many manufacturers use laser equipment to put high-contrast marks directly onto personal protective equipment materials. Purchasers can then rest assured the products meet specific standards and are genuine.

In one case, a Kentucky businessman cashed in on the pandemic by selling nearly $130,000 worth of counterfeit N95 masks and telling consumers they were a particular brand. Since laser marks are permanent, there’s no risk of fraudsters tampering with them for personal gain while putting consumers at risk.

Advancements in PPE also happen when people create safer materials. A recent example came from Rice University. Engineers there developed a composite, textile-based option that people can decontaminate in only five seconds using a Joule heating method. Even better, that can happen without individuals needing to remove the PPE. The researchers believe their invention will significantly reduce the amount of PPE waste.

It will also keep users safe because the worn products won’t get hot enough to cause burns or discomfort, but the decontamination method tackles more than 99.9% of germs. The team has developed a glove made with this new material. They say even one could stop 20 pounds of nitrile-based waste from ending up in landfills.

As this example shows, the search for better personal protective equipment materials often results in multiple benefits. Such outcomes keep researchers motivated and justify continued investments in their work.

Recognize the role technologies play

Many advancements in PPE occur because the people involved know how to tap into the power of advanced technology. Artificial intelligence (AI) has reshaped health care by providing better patient analyses, improving telehealth platforms and more. It can also enable materials researchers to find better PPE innovations.

One AI-based product predicts how new materials will perform and gives results in seconds. Researchers have also explored creating PPE with smart sensors that monitor the fit and a wearer’s health. Other projects involve battery-free sensing devices that detect fatigue or breathing difficulties.

Another case consisted of a team making virus-fighting face masks. They did so by applying broad-spectrum antimicrobial polymers onto the polypropylene filters inside N95 masks. The researchers relied on fundamental chemical principles to create a non-leaching coating that kills bacteria and viruses. Their process only involves acetone and ultraviolet light, making it accessible and scalable.

People are also curious about how 3D printing could bring about advancements in PPE. However, an emerging concern is the materials used to make products this way could become contaminated and retain bacteria.

However, a study examined how polylactic acid — a popular 3D printing material — stacked up with two lesser-used options that contain copper and silver. The results indicated the silver and copper had antibacterial properties, reducing the extent to which the printed products got contaminated. The researchers concluded 3D printing could become a viable way to deal with PPE shortages, especially if people select the best-suited personal protective equipment materials for specific environments.

Support advancements in PPE

It’s wise to stay abreast of what’s happening in the world of PPE improvements and consider how these developments may affect your work. Then, once new products arrive on the market that you’re eager to try, work on getting the necessary budget for them. Be sure to talk to decision-makers about the anticipated benefits, including how much money you could save, the potential for waste reduction and more. That will help them see the return on investment.

Plan for training to help all workers get used to any procedures associated with the PPE. Then, get feedback from users to determine what they like and dislike about the new equipment. Show them you care about their input and will rely on it when making future purchasing decisions.