U.K. PPE In Construction Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Respiratory Protection, Protective Clothing, Protective Footwear, Hand Protection), And Segment Forecasts, 2020 - 2027

Report Overview

The U.K. PPE in the construction market size was estimated at USD 270.9 million in 2019 and expected to register a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.9% from 2020 to 2027. Increasing awareness among industry participants regarding the importance of worker safety and security at workplaces on account of the stringent regulations and high costs associated with workplace hazards is anticipated to drive market growth.

Personal protective equipment (PPE) are manufactured with various inherent properties such as heat and UV tolerance, flexibility, wear resistance, toughness, and durability, and aesthetic appeal owing to its diversified applications. Other qualities, such as flame retardancy and improved breathability, have made protective equipment as one of the leading choices for the construction industry.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE), a government agency in the U.K., is engaged in increasing awareness regarding workplace safety to workers across various end-use industries. Initiatives such as “Raising the bar” that includes the collaboration of Highways England with its supply chain to identify the existing health and safety practices and the safety norms to be implemented on all the major construction projects are anticipated to drive the market in the country.

Rising safety, environment, and health concerns regarding harmful emissions and exposure to fire and smoke are anticipated to bolster the demand for personal protective equipment in the country. Furthermore, high costs associated with workplace hazards, including reimbursements to workers’ families and medical expenditure in case of major injuries and loss of lives, are forcing construction firms to focus on workers’ protection and other personal protective equipment.

Rising demand for personal protective equipment and a ban on the export of the products in China has created a shortage of PPE in the UK. However, NHS England has confirmed that at the national level, the countries have an adequate supply of items. According to BMA, doctors are visiting building sites to get a hold of masks on account of the shortage of medical-grade personal protective equipment.

PPE manufacturing companies are engaged in designing and supplying products for different end-use industries depending on the level of protection required for various workplace hazards by employing unique and innovative technologies. Most of the manufacturers either have their proprietary technology or license the same from other industry participants.

Product Insights

Protective clothing segment held the largest revenue share of the U.K. PPE in construction over 25% in 2019. The segment is projected to continue holding the leading revenue share during the forecast period, due to steady product demand. Hard hats are the most used head protection gear in the construction industry as they are designed to protect the head from falling objects and the side of the neck, eyes, and head from any bumps, electrical exposure, scrapes, and impact. The costs of dealing with an injury on the construction site are higher as compared to the cost of providing hard hats, which, in turn, has forced the companies to invest heavily in headgear.

The demand for face protection is estimated to witness a CAGR of 4.8% from 2020 to 2027 owing to its ability to provide protection against environmental, chemical, mechanical, or radiological irritants and hazards. Each year in the U.K., thousands of workers are blinded in workplace accidents, which could lead to medical expenses of over USD 300 million per year along with lost production time and worker compensation.

Staying visible while working outdoors on busy roads or motorways has become a priority for construction companies as more than 90 workers get seriously injured annually by mobile plant or vehicles on construction sites, according to the Health and Safety Executive. As per the agency, these accidents could have been prevented if the workers were provided high-visibility warning clothing.

Construction activities such as grinding, crushing, cutting, sanding, and demolition result in the generation of a large amount of dust. The hazardous dust generated includes fibrous dust and non-fibrous silica dust. Respiratory protective equipment accounted for 7.7% in 2019, owing to the increasing concerns regarding the respiratory protection of the workers.

Key Companies & Market Share Insights

The industry focuses on R&D activities to develop new technologies for manufacturing products and integration across different stages of the value chain to ensure a competitive edge in the market. Market players are engaged in launching advanced and innovative products that offer superior protection to workers engaged in performing a wide array of construction activities. For instance, the Uvex Safety Group launched an innovative workwear collection for the construction industry to offer high visibility and SPF protection to workers. Some of the prominent players in the U.K. personal protective equipment in construction market include:

• 3M

• Honeywell International

• DuPont

• Uvex Safety

• Mine Safety Appliances (MSA) Company

• Ansell Ltd.

U.K. PPE In Construction Market Report Scope

Segments Covered in the Report

This report forecasts revenue growth at country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends in each of the sub-segments from 2016 to 2027. For the purpose of this study, Grand View Research has segmented the U.K. PPE in construction market report on the basis of product:

• Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2027)

  • Head Protection

  • Face Protection

  • Eye Protection

  • Hearing Protection

  • Protective Clothing

    • Heat & flame protection

    • Thermal Insulation & Waterproof Clothing

    • General Use

    • His-Vis clothing

    • Others

  • Respiratory Protection

    • Air-purifying respirator

    • Supplied air respirators

  • Protective Footwear

    • Leather

    • Rubber

    • PVC

    • Polyurethane

    • Others

  • Fall Protection

  • Hand Protection

    • Disposable gloves

      • Natural rubber/latex

      • Nitrile gloves

      • Neoprene

      • Vinyl gloves

      • Others

    • Durable gloves

      • Mechanical gloves

      • Chemical handling

      • Thermal/flame retardant

      • Others

  • Others