Wholesale Safety Equipment Suppliers

Certification is the product

Personal protective equipment is regulated. In the EU, products must meet the PPE Regulation, carry CE marking and are classed by the seriousness of the risk. Products for the most serious risks need a notified body to be involved in the approval, and the body's number appears next to the CE mark. Other markets, including the UK and the US, have their own approval systems, and respirators in particular face extra rules. Check the rules for your market.

Products are normally tested against specific standards. EN standards often seen on products include those for protective gloves, safety helmets, eye protection, safety footwear and filtering respirators. Match the standard to the hazard, because a glove for cuts does not protect against chemicals.

Fake certificates and marks

Counterfeit masks and gloves have been a real problem, and the cheap, uncertified product looks the same as the certified one. Protect yourself:

• ask for the certificate and declaration of conformity, and check that the model on it matches the product
• verify the notified body number with the body itself
• check that the markings on the product match the standard claimed
• be careful with suppliers who offer a certificate only after payment

A product that fails when used can injure someone, and the seller may face liability.

Fit, range and sizing

Safety buyers need sizes. Gloves, footwear and workwear are bought by size run, and a poor range means lost sales. Hi-visibility clothing has performance classes that depend on the amount of fluorescent and reflective material, and customers often need a specific class for their site. Ask about colour options, logo printing and whether specific sizes can be restocked.

Shelf life and storage

Some PPE ages even when unused. Respirator filters and some earplugs carry an expiry date, rubber and elastic perish, and harnesses and lanyards weaken with sunlight and chemicals. Store away from heat, light and moisture, and rotate stock by date. Make sure the date is printed on the product, not only on the carton.

Pack sizes, margins and seasonality

Gloves are sold by the pair in dozens or boxes, masks and earplugs in boxes with fixed counts, and helmets and boots individually. Consumables such as gloves and masks reorder often, which gives steady business, though price competition is strong. Demand for winter gloves and hi-vis rises in autumn, and summer brings cooling and sun protection items. Demand for masks and respirators can jump suddenly with a public health event or a wildfire season.

What to ask a supplier

• Certificates and declarations of conformity for each model
• The standard and performance level claimed
• Expiry dates and recommended storage
• Size range and reorder lead times
• Replacement terms if a batch fails inspection