Lee Taylor, Wenaas, UK, explores the importance of specially designed PPE and work wear for the increasingly extreme environments faced by the oil and gas industry.

Attitudes towards offshore health and safety have come a long way in recent years. Heightened regulatory processes along with major advances in technology have meant that offshore workers are now better equipped to deal with the increasing demands of their roles in harsher climatic environments than ever before.

Health and safety has become a huge industry in its own right, with oil and gas industry bodies funding a multitude of research and development projects to provide the latest safety resources for their workforce. Included in this is the personal protective equipment and work wear sector, which has progressed in tandem with other strands of health and safety. As the offshore workforce evolves, so does the requirement for updated PPE and work wear. This is perfectly illustrated by the recent research undertaken by a university based in Aberdeen, which has assessed the implications of a physically growing offshore workforce upon a number of health and safety measures in general – not least the efficacy of PPE and work wear. The question is – have the work force’s habits changed sufficiently to ensure the right procedures are being followed?

Wenaas is a designer and manufacturer of work wear and PPE, and understands the importance of investment in research and development to continually optimise and improve work wear and PPE. It is on the basis of this commitment to R&D – and a ‘head-to-toe safety’ ethos – that Wenaas has been involved in research projects which aim to develop superior protection work wear, fit to cope with the extreme demands that the petroleum industry supplies.

This is important, because whilst the North Sea offshore industry holds a relatively positive track record for safety, E&P activity is moving into more hazardous, remote and ultimately more dangerous areas, as the search for reserves continues. This presents increasingly challenging environments within which work wear and PPE must perform, whilst highlighting the need for the emergence of innovative solutions and education on how to use those solutions to their best advantage.

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Crafted as a jacket connected to a shirt connected to pants, the Suitsy has a zipper hidden behind the shirt button placard (with false buttons) and pants zipper. There’s even fake shirt cuff material extended from the end of the jacket sleeves to give the impression of a dress shirt worn underneath. Creator Jesse Herzog describes his invention as “a jumpsuit and a business suit had a lovechild.”

“I was at work and I was just thinking, ‘You know, I need a way to look professional and feel like I’m in my pajamas at the same time,'” Herzog said last week on “Good Morning America.” “It’s very comfortable. It’s not lined, so it’s kind of light and easy to wear. It’s also a really efficient way to get ready in the morning.”

“Shark Tank” personality Daymond John gave Herzog some advice on the practicality of the Suitsy.

“It’s all about pricing and positioning. How are you going to market it?” John said on “GMA.” “College kids or a sloppy guy who doesn’t want to get dressed or a farmer who wants to look fabulous on his tractor? Good luck!”

Herzog is currently testing out the idea on Betabrand.com, where people can vote for the idea if they want to see it made. As for how he plans to price the product?

“You can go to the mall and get a suit and a shirt for 600 bucks,” he said. “Suitsy? $375.”

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In spite of a tough economic climate, the vast majority of exhibitors said they felt that the Show acts as a centre piece event for the industry and is a vital stage for networking, catching up with existing clients and meeting new ones. Many exhibitors cited how pleased they were with the quality of those visiting the event.

The show is known for the quality of its visitors and the leads generated; and the overwhelming message from exhibitors is that they were pleased with the outcome of the show and are looking forward to next year’s event which will also combine the 2014 Professional Clothing Awards.

The accompanying WorkIt! Conference, which this year focused on “Nano and advanced technologies for Performance Clothing” generated great interest from the attendees who were impressed by the high-quality speakers from academia and business.

UBHEAD: Innovations Area sponsored by SATRA

The Innovations Area sponsored by SATRA proved a big hit at the Show, with visitors being attracted by the products on view and the chance to take a virtual tour of the Silverstone track in the Formula One Simulator

Visitors had the chance to race against the clock in a digital time trial. The competitor with the fastest time recorded over the two days of the show was Jonathan Pollock of Lee Cooper Workwear, who blew the competition away with a speedy time of 1 minute 38.9 seconds. Jonathan, whose prize is a track day at Silverstone, said: I’m very happy to have won and am looking forward to a great day on the track – it’s been great fun!

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Staff at the Trafford Centre are having a makeover as part of a bid to help shoppers ‘feel better about life’.

Workers will hang up the ‘redcoat’ uniforms they have worn for the last 15 years and swap them for black suits with white shirts and orange neck ties.

The centre will also have a new logo in the form of a little bird in the same colours. It is all part of a rebranding since the sprawling precinct was renamed the Intu Trafford Centre, along with other centres owned by parent group Capital Shopping Centres (CSC).

The Trafford Centre’s official logo will now become a small blue and orange bird, which is said to represent a ‘symbol of joy’. CSC chief executive David Fischel said: “This is deeper than just window dressing. It’s a deeper, more revolutionary change for our centres.”

The new look provoked a mixed response from shoppers on the Trafford Centre’s Facebook page. Anmol Sarmad said: “Miss the old look…hope the new look doesn’t change the vibe of the old Trafford Centre for me.”

Lucy Norris said: “But the Trafford Centre is red! It’s a nice uniform, but definitely more recognisable in red. Now they look like travel agents!”

Gordon McKinnon, director of the Trafford Centre, said: “There has been much excitement in the centre as staff have been wearing their new uniforms for the first time, and they are all really pleased with the new look.

“Of course, there was a lot of fondness for the iconic red jackets, but after 15 years our staff were ready for a change – and how they feel about what they are wearing is really important to us.”

He added: “The response from shoppers on the malls has been extremely positive, and it’s very gratifying to see how the vast majority of our Facebook respondents also ‘like’ our new look

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The Institute’s short courses aim to benefit all who are engaged in the manufacture, research and development as well as the commercial aspects of the textile business. The courses cover the fibres, yarns and fabrics used in textile products for apparel, household and technical textile applications as core modules over three days. The third day offers two specialist modules covering dyeing and finishing and fabric testing and analysis.

“These courses aim to provide both comprehensive and informative material, which is always well presented by experts in their fields especially covering the new developments in industry. Anyone attending the courses will certainly leave with a vastly improved knowledge base and the ability to understand the varied aspects of the textile supply chain,” says Course Director, Professor Subhash Anand.

Two courses are taking place in 2013 in Manchester, UK:

• February 25 to 27
• October 14 to 16

The training is provided by senior consultants, professors, and lecturers from many of the UK’s leading universities and businesses; ensuring a broad international perspective is provided to each of the participants.

Previous delegates have attended from Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Italy, UK, Ghana, Pakistan, and Romania.

Attendee Marissa Alves, Research and Development, Footcare at Reckitt Benckiser, comments:

“The course provides a great sound base of information and I personally had the opportunity to gain a lot of knowledge over a few short days and really appreciated the one on one help that was given by many of the training providers.”

The courses are designed to ensure that each participant receives personal attention and is able to individually benefit from the trainers expertise and therefore the courses have restricted numbers of participants and run with between 10-15 people.

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The Workwear & Corporate Clothing Show is the only UK event dedicated entirely to the manufacture and supply of professional clothing, from cutting edge corporatewear to durable workwear and life-saving PPE (personal protective equipment).

As the only UK-based exhibition dedicated to this marketplace, the two-day Workwear & Corporate Clothing Show has endeavoured to address this demand since it was established in 2008. At the heart of the event is an International Exhibition attracting renowned exhibitors of branded professional clothing, footwear and accessories for the workforce; and sought-after visitors from all over the world. But that’s not all – every year the International Exhibition is supported by a number of new and exciting features.

From the Buyers’ Advice Centre to the Buyer-Supplier Networking Party, and the WorkIT! Conference to the Professional Clothing Awards, every year the organisers bring a new dimension to the show. Next year will be no different as it moves to Silverstone, home to the world-renowned Formula 1™ British Grand Prix.

Article source – http://www.workwearshow.com/

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