Controlling a hazard at its source is the best way to protect people from injuring themselves or others. Investment on personal protective equipment would partly serve this purpose.
PPE production can also be a sound and secure source of generating jobs and revenues in Iran.
“Close to 800 licensed producers of personal protective equipment are active in Tehran and 200 new applicants are waiting to secure permits to venture into this industry. These numbers show the great potential for growth in this field,” says the head of PPE Salespeople and Producers Union.
Reza Mirzaei Qarehlor added that there are no accurate figures on PPE imports to Iran but field reports indicate safety tools worth around $500 million were imported in the last Iranian year (ended March 20, 2015),” the Persian daily Forsat-e Emrooz reports.
Protective equipment may be worn for occupational safety and health purposes, as well as for sports and other recreational activities.
PPE includes a vast number of items such as helmets, gloves, eye protection, high-visibility clothing, safety footwear, safety harnesses, fire equipment, emergency service tools and vehicles. These are designed to protect the wearer from injury or infection.
All PPE clothing and equipment should be of safe design and high quality.
Ahmad Aminian, a PPE business owner, said, “The scourge of smuggling has also hit this industry. So-called safety tools of substandard quality are shipped into the country without proper supervision. That said, the added value of domestic production could help us access the 400-million market of Iran’s neighboring countries once we stem the flow of smuggled goods.”
On the export of Iran-made PPE, Aminian said Iranian products, particularly hard hats and safety footwear, are of much higher quality compared to those of other countries.
“If officials prepare the ground for Iranian producers’ presence in major international exhibitions, we would be able to capture many markets,” he said.
Those with modest investment plans willing to start PPE production can start by manufacturing less complicated tools, says Reza Hami, a fire equipment producer.
“For instance, a small business like refilling fire extinguisher capsules does not require more than $8,500 in initial investment,” he said.
