With a value of approximately AU$132.5 billion in 2024, the global personal protective equipment (PPE) market is expected to grow by another AU$68.3 billion by 2030, according to estimates from Grand View Research.

The increased demand for PPE is largely being driven by growing awareness of worker safety, along with a surge in demand in the healthcare, military, and law enforcement sectors following the COVID-19 pandemic—particularly for items like masks, gloves, and gowns.

Mark Warner, National Sales Manager at The Bullen Companies in the US, has been in the professional cleaning industry for around 40 years and says that the rise in safety awareness is the biggest factor influencing the PPE industry today.

“People are much more attuned to the fact that they shouldn’t go to work if they’re sick, and if they’re feeling unwell, maybe they should wear a mask to protect their coworkers. None of that was a mainstream concept before 2020,” Warner said.

“That level of awareness has ramped up tenfold, maybe a hundredfold, from what it was in 2019 and earlier.”

The role of education

Safety begins with educating workers about cleaning and maintenance procedures, along with the proper use of chemicals and PPE.

“Without establishing that habit from the start, you’ll find yourself explaining why someone got injured after the fact,” Warner said.

Wearing PPE is just one part of the equation.

“Make sure that workers are trained on how to put PPE on and how to take it off,” Warner said.

“One of the worst things that can happen is someone wearing the right gear but wearing it incorrectly. When that happens, they’re not actually protecting themselves.”

Warner’s advice is particularly relevant when it comes to wearing equipment such as masks and respirators. This type of equipment should undergo a fit-test process, as recommended by Safe Work Australia, to ensure no breaches where unfiltered air can pass through.

“All of these protection measures are crucial for employers, because they bear potential liability if something happens to a frontline worker,” Warner said.

Not only can training help keep workers safe, David Swindle II, founder and CEO of True Cleaning Solutions, emphasised that it can help businesses stay updated on safety protocols.

“They need to know to train their staff from the get-go on how to use PPE,” Swindle said. “It’s also a great opportunity to work with their local suppliers. Our industry is very well-educated.”

Swindle added that several new tools are now available, and attending industry events like The ISSA Cleaning & Hygiene Expo and working with manufacturer and distributor representatives can provide the latest information on PPE.

Safety do’s and don’ts

With nearly 40 years of experience in the cleaning industry, Swindle believes one of the most critical traits for a professional is awareness.

“One of the biggest ‘do’s’ is to be aware,” he said.

“Cleaning professionals should be reading safety data sheets and product labels to understand what PPE is necessary for the jobs they’re doing.”

Similarly, one of the best ways to prepare for hazards is by conducting a risk assessment before each job.

“A risk assessment helps identify where we can eliminate potential risks before getting to PPE,” Swindle said.

“If we can’t eliminate it, we reduce the possible risk. PPE is our last line of defence, so it’s essential we look for ways to eliminate potential hazards for our frontline workers and keep them safe.”

This leads to some of the most significant ‘don’ts’ in the industry.

“One of the biggest mistakes is when employers don’t do risk assessments,” Swindle said.

“When they fail to do that, they’re not aware of what’s needed. Along those lines, they might assume they have the right equipment.”

For example, chemical dispensing systems often use very concentrated chemicals. Without appropriate PPE like goggles or gloves, these concentrated chemicals can easily cause harm, Swindle explained.

Additionally, managers shouldn’t assume employees will know which protective equipment to use or that the client will provide it. Swindle emphasised that the employer is responsible for providing appropriate PPE for each work task.

Moreover, Warner stressed the importance of correctly donning and doffing PPE—an often-overlooked practice in the cleaning industry—particularly with gloves.

When a glove is contaminated by a toxin, caustic material, or pathogen, cleaners shouldn’t remove it by sticking their fingers inside the cuff, as one might after doing the dishes. Instead, professionals should pinch the glove’s palm with their other gloved hand and pull it off gently, turning it inside out. The process ensures any contaminants stay inside the glove, so they can safely handle it without risk.

Workers also need to handle other forms of PPE, such as masks and eyewear, properly to avoid contamination. For example, on masks, the elastic bands behind the wearer’s ears are the least likely to be contaminated.

“Don’t handle PPE incorrectly—these are matters of health and safety,” Warner said.

“Train staff on how to don and doff PPE properly. Don’t let them figure it out the hard way.”

Protection from head to toe

While gloves are often the first thing workers think of, Warner and Swindle agreed that eye protection is an underused or misused piece of equipment.

“It’s one of the most overlooked forms of protection in the industry, but it’s critical,” Swindle explained.

“There are many situations where chemicals can be splashed into our eyes. An example is when we’re pressure-washing, and debris can easily hit our face and eyes.”

Warner pointed out that eyes are portals for infectious pathogens. When cleaning overhead or when there’s a risk of overspray, eye protection is just as important as gloves.

“What I see is people who aren’t wearing prescription glasses or safety glasses,” Warner said.

“That tells me they haven’t had the training they need, because if they knew what we know, they’d be horrified to work without protection.”

Swindle and Warner also highlighted the importance of proper footwear. For example, burns on the feet from highly alkaline floor-cleaning chemicals can occur without workers realising, due to a lack of pain receptors below the surface.

“The most dangerous part is that people can be burned without knowing it,” Warner said.

A symbol of professionalism

Beyond safety, PPE also represents professionalism.

“Gloves are a form of protection, but they also signal to others that they’re dealing with a professional,” Warner explained.

“Nothing looks worse than seeing someone cleaning professionally without proper safety gear, like watching someone working on a highway without a safety vest. You question whether they belong there.”

Warner added that wearing a uniform or colour-coded clothing is best practice for contract workers.

“Whether it’s khaki pants and a blue polo or an actual uniform, it’s a way for people to know that those workers belong in the building,” Warner said.

A timeless concern

While worker needs and product innovations will continue to evolve, Warner and Swindle agree that concern for worker safety remains constant.

“The biggest thing that came out of the pandemic is that we’ve started thinking more about how to protect our frontline workers,” Swindle said.

“As long as we continue to focus on their safety, PPE will remain a key element.”

About the author:

Ryan Kupperman, a former intern for CMM, is a class of 2025 undergraduate student at Elon University studying journalism with a minor in criminal justice studies.

Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash.