Personal protective equipment (PPE) acts as the key barrier against occupational injuries, yet hazards vary widely across industries, calling for customized protective gear instead of universal options. Construction sites face risks including falling debris, dust and sharp cuts. Mandatory gear includes GB2811-standard safety helmets, KN95 dust masks, cut-resistant gloves and anti-smash & anti-puncture safety shoes, plus fall-arrest harnesses for high-altitude work. Chemical workshops expose workers to acid-base corrosion and toxic fumes, requiring CE-certified chemical resistant suits, specialized gas masks and nitrile gloves with impermeable and flame-retardant fabrics. Machinery manufacturing involves metal splashes and cutting hazards; operators need impact-resistant goggles and level-4 cut-resistant gloves, along with noise-canceling earmuffs in loud workshops. Electronics factories prioritize static prevention with full anti-static coveralls, dust-free masks and lint-free gloves to protect precision components. The core selection rule is to assess on-site risks first before matching corresponding protection grades while ensuring wearing comfort. This reduces occupational injuries and diseases fundamentally by encouraging consistent long-term use of protective gear.

Domestic and export PPE manufacturers must master two core safety certifications: China’s GB National Standard and EU CE marking, mandatory thresholds for domestic and overseas sales respectively. GB standards are compulsory in China, covering safety helmets (GB2811), respiratory protection (GB2626) and hand protection. Special PPE additionally requires LA safety certification; uncertified goods are banned from mass domestic sales. CE marking is a prerequisite for EU market access under Regulation EU 2016/425, categorizing PPE into three risk classes. Low-risk simple protection allows self-declaration, while medium and high-risk products such as chemical suits and gas masks demand third-party type-test reports with NB numbers. Customs will detain shipments without valid CE labels. GB standards adapt to domestic mining and construction conditions, while CE sets detailed international standards for chemical and welding protection. Professional manufacturers obtain both certifications with full production aligned to dual quality control systems, complying with domestic factory procurement rules and seamless export orders to avoid losses from non-compliant qualifications.

With upgraded global safety standards, the PPE industry focuses R&D on new materials, ergonomics and scenario-based customization. Traditional canvas and ordinary rubber fabrics are replaced by innovative materials like Kevlar cut-resistant fiber, flame-retardant composite fabric and anti-static blended cloth. These materials cut product weight by 30% with equivalent protection, balancing durability and lightness. Ergonomic design stands out as a core R&D priority. Gloves and helmet liners are reshaped to fit Asian hand and head shapes, relieving tight marks, stuffiness and breathlessness during long shifts and greatly improving wearer compliance. Scenario customization gains popularity among overseas and large corporate buyers, with tailored protective kits for construction, chemical, welding and other sectors. Factories adjust protection levels, fabric functions and brand logos per clients’ working conditions. Moving forward, the industry will balance protection performance, comfort and cost. Large-scale manufacturers with professional R&D teams develop new products compliant with global standards, replacing low-end homogeneous goods with technological innovation and supplying integrated professional protection solutions worldwide.