PPE solutions for the maritime and shipping sector
The UK maritime industry is a vital part of the nation's economy, but it also comes with inherent risks. To ensure the safety and well-being of those working in this sector, it's imperative to prioritise the use of appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
The harsh maritime environment poses hazards such as such as slips, trips and falls on wet or uneven surfaces, abrasions from ropes, prolonged exposure to high noise levels from machinery, hazardous chemicals and harsh weather conditions. All of these hazards demand specific PPE to protect workers.
Workers in the maritime industry are exposed to a variety of hazards, including:
With protecting people at its core, uvex PPE incorporates numerous technologies to enhance safety, functionality and wearer comfort. By doing so, our products not only keep workplace hazards to a minimum, we can help prevent long-term health risks, enhance employee wellbeing which in turn has a positive effect on performance and productivity.
The UK Maritime industry handles over 420 Mt of freight and 18M passengers each year.
95% of the UK's imports and exports are moved by sea; including energy and food supplies.
The UK's maritime industry is the largest in Europe and supports over 1 million jobs.
At uvex, we recognise that sustainability is a key issue and embrace our responsibility in addressing it. Rooted in our mission of "protecting people," we are committed to safeguarding the environment, integrating sustainability holistically into all our processes. We are actively addressing sustainability which we see as a transformation process that won’t happen overnight but with the help of our sustainability frameworks, and commitment to the European Green Deal, we aim to be climate neutral by 2045, 5 years ahead of the European goal.
Head protection for working at height and falling objects
Working within the maritime industry can mean working in high-risk environments and accidents can happen. In 2022, 11.8% of deaths and injuries of merchant vessel crew were related to head injuries*. Head injuries can be caused by falling objects, striking fixed objects or low ceilings in confined spaces. Between our helmet, faceguard and bump cap we have a variety of options to best support the head protection needs for your work circumstances.
Safety gloves for changing weather conditions and general handling
Working in the maritime industry, workers need gloves to protect against changing weather conditions, impact hazards and friction injuries. Handling heavy ropes, cables and wires on deck can cause crush injuries, abrasions/rope burns and cuts to the hands, especially to the back of the hand, without proper protection. The uvex range of safety gloves is subject to the most stringent control measures ensuring first-class quality and a glove solution for almost any workplace hazard.
Safety gloves for working in the cold
When working outside in the cold having a pair of warm safety gloves is essential to getting on with the job in hand without experiencing discomfort from cold hands or fingers or reduced protection.
Glove maintenance tips
Follow these tips on how to care for and maintain your uvex mechanical safety gloves hygienically and safely, making sure you remove them correctly and wash and store them effectively.
HexArmor specialist protection
The HexArmor specialist glove range features top-level cut, puncture and abrasion resistance – all purpose-built for a wide variety of hazards and applications.
Anti-fog safety eyewear for reliable protection and comfort
Workers in the maritime sector face a risk of eye injuries from flying debris, moving parts and deck equipment, which can lead to serious damage if adequate protection is not used. Anti-fog safety eyewear with UV and impact protection helps prevent injuries by safeguarding against poor visibility, reflections from water, concrete or bright painted surfaces, and debris. Our close fitting specs are ideal for working in confined spaces, as well as our wraparound and frameless options. All uvex eyewear delivers edge to edge crystal clear clarity with 100% UV protection and meets the highest quality standards.
When working outdoors, your eyes are regularly exposed to harmful UV radiation - even when it is cloudy. The result: using insufficient protection poses a risk of dangerous long-term damage. UV protection is therefore particularly important for those working in the maritime industry. With uvex UV400 technology as standard across our safety eyewear range, the eyes and surrounding skin are 100% protected against harmful UVA and UVB.
Sustainable eyewear - protecting planet
Choice of lens tints
Properly tinted safety eyewear can have a dramatic effect on the wearer’s vision, comfort and energy levels as well as concentration and productivity. Contrast-enhancing tints significantly improve depth perception with full signal colour recognition guaranteed.
Reliable UV protection
Working outside for long hours increases your exposure to damaging ultraviolet rays, even on cloudy days. uvex which stands for UltraViolet EXclusion is unique to the rest of the safety eyewear market in that it offers UV400 as standard across its entire range.
Permanent lens coatings
uvex is the world leader in lens coating technology, delivering coatings that are permanently bonded to the lens and so do not wash or wear off, even after extended wear or repeated cleaning. With a range of coatings available, uvex is able to offer the right solution for your working environment.
Prescription safety eyewear
Easy-to-use hearing protection
Extended exposure to high noise levels can lead to gradual, yet permanent and irreversible, hearing loss so it is imperative maritime workers have the appropriate hearing protection equipment. Easy-to-use hearing protection shielding from noises from machinery, vehicles and moving parts such as shipping containers as well as helping with clear communication.
Robust safety footwear for protection from slips, trips and falls
Wet or uneven surfaces, oil spills, and shifting equipment on decks can lead to slips, trips and falls, posing a risk for serious injury. Being on your feet all day requires footwear that supports the musculoskeletal system. Our outdoor safety boots feature broad soles and deep treads with channels to disperse water, improving surface grip. Manufactured in our factory in Italy, uvex safety footwear is also incredibly comfortable to wear thanks to lightweight designs and carefully chosen materials.
uvex footwear fit clinics
The uvex fit clinics support employees with the correct fitting of safety footwear and ensures employees find the correct size (length) and width for their boots or shoes.
Footwear maintenance tips
Follow these tips on how to care for and maintain your uvex safety shoes and boots, making sure you store them effectively and check regularly for faults, damage, or wear and tear.
A simple guide to EN ISO 20345:2022
EN ISO 20345:2022 includes several key changes to help health & safety professionals ensure they are purchasing the products they need.
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