Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Personal protective equipment plays an important role in protecting workers from the hazards they encounter on the job, from impact and visibility risks to cuts, abrasions, and exposure. The right PPE helps prevent injuries before they happen and keeps workers compliant with the safety standards that apply to their trade and worksite.
Sales Solutions Inc. represents leading manufacturers of personal protective equipment for construction, industrial, utility, and other workplace safety applications. Our offerings include head protection, high-visibility apparel, hand protection, and foot protection. SSI works with distributors and end users throughout our territory to introduce products for their applications and provide knowledgeable sales and product support.
PPE for Workplace Safety
No single piece of PPE protects a worker from every hazard on a job, which is why most worksites rely on a combination of equipment selected for the specific risks present: impact and falling-object hazards, low-visibility conditions, cuts and abrasions from tools and materials, and exposure to rough or unstable ground underfoot. Understanding which hazards are present, and which standards apply, is the starting point for outfitting a crew properly.
PPE needs vary by trade, environment, and task. A utility crew working near traffic has different visibility and head protection needs than a warehouse team handling sharp materials, and a crew working outdoors in changing weather needs footwear and apparel built for the conditions. Matching the equipment to the actual hazard, rather than defaulting to the cheapest or most familiar option, is what keeps PPE effective rather than just a compliance checkbox.
PPE Products
Personal protective equipment is available in a range of configurations designed for different workplace environments and hazards. SSI represents products across head protection, high-visibility apparel, hand protection, and foot protection.
Head Protection
Head protection includes both traditional hard hats and modern safety helmets, designed to protect against impact from falling objects, and in the case of helmet-style designs, lateral impacts and falls as well. Fit, ventilation, and compatibility with accessories like face shields or hearing protection all factor into whether a worker actually wears their head protection correctly and consistently.
High-Visibility Apparel
High-visibility vests, jackets, and outerwear help keep workers visible to equipment operators, drivers, and other crews, particularly in low-light conditions or around vehicle and machinery traffic. ANSI class ratings vary by application, and apparel needs to hold up to repeated washing and wear without losing its reflectivity.
Hand Protection
Gloves protect against the cuts, abrasions, punctures, and chemical exposure that come with handling tools, sharp materials, and hardware throughout the day. Cut-resistance ratings, coating type, and grip all matter for matching a glove to the actual task rather than just the general jobsite.
Foot Protection
Safety footwear protects against impact, puncture, and slip hazards underfoot, and is often the piece of PPE a worker wears the longest each shift. Fit, waterproofing, and all-day comfort make a real difference in whether footwear gets replaced with something less protective once it starts to hurt.
PPE Manufacturers
SSI represents manufacturers that provide personal protective equipment for a wide range of workplace applications. Our PPE offering includes products from Kishigo, KASK, Liberty Glove & Safety, and U-Power.
Kishigo
Kishigo has manufactured high-visibility safety apparel since 1971, with a product line that includes ANSI-compliant vests, jackets, rainwear, and shirts across the standard visibility classes. Beyond meeting the baseline reflectivity requirements, Kishigo’s line includes options built for specific conditions, mesh construction for hot weather, insulated and rainwear pieces for cold or wet jobs, and multi-pocket designs for workers who need to carry tools or a phone without losing visibility coverage. That range matters because compliance apparel that’s uncomfortable in the conditions it’s actually worn in tends to get left in the truck.
KASK
KASK manufactures safety helmets used across construction, utility, and industrial applications. Unlike a traditional cap-style hard hat, which is primarily designed to protect against impact from directly above, KASK’s helmet-style designs extend coverage around the sides of the head and pair it with an integrated, adjustable chin strap, which keeps the helmet in place during a slip, a fall, or a gust of wind rather than just sitting on top of the head. Interior padding, adjustable fit systems, and ventilation are built in rather than added on, and most models include integrated mounts for face shields, hearing protection, or headlamps so accessories don’t require separate straps or adapters.
Liberty Glove & Safety
Liberty Safety began in 1987 as a glove manufacturer and has since grown into a broader PPE supplier, though hand protection remains the core of the line. Liberty’s glove offering spans work from light-duty general handling up through ANSI A4 and A5 cut-resistant levels, with coating options, palm materials, and cuff styles matched to different tasks, wet or dry grip, abrasion resistance, or puncture protection, rather than a single one-size-fits-all glove. For crews where different tasks call for different hand protection through the day, having that range in one line simplifies matching the right glove to the right job.
U-Power
U-Power manufactures safety footwear designed and made in Italy, built around toe protection, anti-perforation soles, and slip resistance to the applicable safety ratings. Beyond the base protection, the line includes features aimed at all-day wear, breathable and waterproof uppers, cushioned or energy-return midsoles, and anti-static or ESD-safe construction for specific applications, which matters on a job where footwear is worn for a full shift rather than just clocked as a compliance item.
Choosing the Right PPE
Selecting the right PPE starts with identifying the actual hazards present on the job, impact, visibility, cuts and abrasions, punctures, and matching equipment to those specific risks rather than to a general notion of “safety gear.” Important considerations include which standards apply (OSHA, ANSI, and any trade- or task-specific requirements), how long the equipment will be worn each shift, and how well it holds up to repeated use and cleaning.
Fit and comfort deserve as much attention as the protection rating itself. PPE that’s uncomfortable, doesn’t fit properly, or gets in the way of the task is PPE that eventually gets skipped, regardless of how well it’s rated on paper. Matching equipment to the actual conditions workers face, weather, duration of wear, and the specific task at hand, is what keeps PPE in use rather than in the truck.
SSI works with distributors and end users to help identify PPE products that fit their applications and connect them with the appropriate products from the manufacturers we represent.
PPE Sales & Product Support
SSI works with safety distributors and end users to help connect workplace applications with PPE products from the manufacturers we represent. Our sales team provides product knowledge and application support throughout the sales process, helping customers understand available equipment and identify products suited to their needs.
Our team works directly in the field with distributors and their customers, providing product demonstrations, training, and on-site support when appropriate. This hands-on approach gives SSI an understanding of the environments in which PPE is used and helps us support both our manufacturer partners and the customers they serve.
PPE FAQs
What is OSHA's new rule on PPE fit?
On December 12, 2024, OSHA finalized a revision to its PPE standard for construction (29 CFR 1926.95(c)), effective January 13, 2025, explicitly requiring that PPE properly fit each individual worker. The change brings the construction standard in line with language already in place for general industry and shipyards, and clarifies that it’s the employer’s responsibility to provide PPE that actually fits, not just PPE that technically meets the hazard requirement. OSHA noted the update was driven in part by workers, women in particular, being routinely issued PPE sized only for an average-size male frame. Ill-fitting PPE isn’t just uncomfortable: oversized gloves or clothing can catch on equipment, a poorly fitted helmet can shift out of position, and gear that doesn’t fit well is more likely to be worn incorrectly or skipped altogether.
Where does PPE fall in the hierarchy of controls?
PPE sits at the bottom of the hierarchy of controls, the framework safety professionals use to prioritize how workplace hazards are addressed. The hierarchy generally runs, from most to least effective: elimination of the hazard, substitution with something less hazardous, engineering controls that isolate people from the hazard, administrative controls such as training and procedures, and finally PPE, which protects the individual worker but doesn’t remove or reduce the hazard itself. PPE is considered the last line of defense rather than the first, used to address whatever risk remains after the other controls have been applied, not as a substitute for them.
What's the difference between a hard hat and a safety helmet?
A traditional hard hat is designed primarily to protect against impact from objects falling from above. A helmet-style design typically extends coverage around the sides of the head and includes an integrated chin strap, offering additional protection against lateral impacts and helping the helmet stay in place during a slip, fall, or high-wind condition.
How do ANSI cut-resistance ratings work for gloves?
ANSI cut-resistance levels (A1 through A9) indicate how much force a glove’s material can withstand before being cut, with higher numbers indicating greater resistance. The right level depends on the materials and tools involved in the task; a rating that’s too low won’t provide adequate protection, while an unnecessarily high rating can sacrifice dexterity for tasks that don’t require it.
What ANSI class of high-visibility apparel do I need?
ANSI/ISEA 107 defines classes of high-visibility apparel based on the level of risk and the worker’s proximity to traffic or equipment, with higher classes providing more reflective material and background coverage. The appropriate class depends on the work environment, such as roadway proximity, vehicle speeds, and available lighting, rather than being a single standard for all jobs.
Why does footwear matter as much as other PPE?
Safety footwear is often worn for an entire shift, longer than almost any other piece of PPE, so fit and comfort directly affect whether a worker keeps wearing appropriately rated footwear or eventually switches to something less protective. Impact, puncture, and slip resistance ratings should be matched to the specific hazards of the job, wet surfaces, sharp debris, or heavy materials.
How often should PPE be inspected or replaced?
PPE should be inspected regularly for wear, damage, or degraded protective properties, cracked shells, worn tread, faded reflective material, or compromised glove coatings, and replaced according to the manufacturer’s guidance or sooner if damage is visible. Worn PPE that still looks generally intact can offer significantly less protection than it did when new.
Need Help Finding the Right PPE Products?
SSI works with distributors and end users to help identify personal protective equipment for a wide range of workplace applications. Talk with our team about your application, worker safety needs, and the products available from the manufacturers we represent.