Safety gloves set for new fall testing methods

Personal protective equipment (PPE) products such as safety gloves and boots are set to receive closer analysis of their ability to withstand the pressure of falls from height.

Intertek, a global testing and inspection firm, has announced it is to analyse the capabilities of PPE products to meet the standards of both the US Safety Equipment Institute and other worldwide regulatory organisations.

After testing PPE such as protective boots, safety gloves and helmets over the past 18 years, Intertek will now use drop tower facilities to check the fall protection capabilities of equipment.

Gregg Tiemann, chief executive of Intertek's commercial and electrical products division, said that manufacturers will now have a 'complete solution' when it comes to testing PPE.

He commented: 'The addition of this new service offering helps us provide clients with greater efficiencies in testing and certification and most importantly, enables the launch of potentially life-saving products to market faster than ever before.'

Intertek operates roughly 1,000 testing laboratories across the world, employing around 23,000 people.

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