Global Above the Neck Protective Equipment Market Outlook to 2026

Persistent technological advancement and innovations in the Above the Neck Protective Equipment are expected to drive the market over the forecast period. Moreover, the adoption of stringent regulations requiring strict adherence to personal protection in every sector and growing concern about long latency injuries among workers is further anticipated to escalate market growth. Another market driving factor is the increasing number of jobs in hazardous conditions such as brownfield sites and a significant rise in automation in the workplace, like the use of robots in the industrial sector that can cause a substantial injury due to malfunction.

Health and safety are crucial for all industries to promote the wellness of both employees and employers. It is essential to wear the right protection equipment tools such as earplugs, earmuffs, hard hats, full-face masks, etc. to prevent the workers from the incidents that occur at the workplace. Globally, there is a vast array of workplace safety laws depending on the industry, such as construction standards, maritime standards, or less physically-active industry standards. There are also a lot of measures within each specific industry, depending on the hazard. Most of the countries have their own PPE rules and regulations. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the employer is responsible for providing proper fitting protective gear at no cost to the worker. Protective equipment should be comfortable and reliable, stored in a clean environment, and kept clean.

Moreover, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) specifies that protective equipment and gear is recommended to be the last level of defense to prevent occupational injuries, illnesses, and fatalities. Similarly, The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2019 bill by the Labor & Employment Ministry of India emphasizes the regulation of workers' health and safety conditions in establishments with ten or more workers, and all mines and docks.According to Chinese government data, accident rates, death tolls, and the incidence of occupational disease are comparatively high, with an average of about 81 deaths per day from work-related accidents in 2019.

In China, the 2002 Work Safety Law provides the main legal framework for workers, employers, and government agencies' rights and responsibilities in creating and maintaining a safe workplace. Under the law, employers must provide employees with proper safety equipment suitable to the nature of their work and keep that equipment up-to-date and in working order. The Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, often referred to as HSW, HSWA, HASAW 1974, or HASAWA, is an Act of Parliament that sets out the framework for managing workplace health and safety in the United Kingdom. Health and safety are crucial for all industries to promote the wellness of both employees and employers. It is essential to wear the right protection equipment tools such as earplugs, earmuffs, hard hats, full-face masks, etc. to prevent the workers from the incidents that occur at the workplace.

By product type, the respiratory protection segment is expected to be the dominant market shareholder due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic during the forecast period. Respiratory hazards can exist in various forms at general industry worksites. Some hazardous substances include gases, vapors, dust, mists, fumes, smoke, sprays, and fog.In situations of inhalation risk at the worksite, any mask is not sufficient. Some filters and disposable masks only offer protection against dust and fumes. Other substances can be filtered using special filters, and specific high-risk applications use specialist fresh air-fed equipment to provide protection.Employers are strictly required to expertly assess exposure needs for the right grade of filter to be used in extreme conditions.Some of the frequently used industrial respiratory equipment includes single-use disposable masks for protection against dust (Standard EN 149) or against both dust and vapors (EN405).The non-disposable equivalent is Standard EN 140 and allows appropriate filter cartridges to be attached to the mask.Vapor cartridges used in the masks are usually filled with activated carbon or certain resins and absorb substances such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and eliminate them from breathing.Outbreaks of epidemics and pandemics such as Ebola, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), or coronavirus (COVID‐19), etc. are further escalating the market for respiratory protection.

North America is anticipated to be the fastest-growing region due to rising awareness of workplace injuries and stringent government regulations regarding workplace safety.In the US, three Department of Labor (DOL) agencies have responsibility for the administration and enforcement of the laws enacted to protect workers' safety and health in America. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) was created after several tragic and concerning events that harmed, or even killed, many American workers. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were 5,250 fatal work injuries recorded in the United States in 2018.Nearly every employee in the nation comes under OSHA's jurisdiction, except miners, some transportation workers, many public employees, and the self-employed.Workplace injuries are responsible for substantial monetary burdens on the government and its subsidiaries and can be avoided to a certain extent by wearing proper protective equipment.According to the National Safety Council (NSC), the total cost of work injuries in 2018 was USD 170.8 billion. This figure includes wage and productivity losses of USD 52.4 billion, medical expenses of USD 35 billion, and administrative expenses of USD 57.6 billion.

The market for above-the-neck protective equipment is partially consolidated with a few major market players including 3M, Honeywell International Inc., Mallcom India Limited, MSA Safety Incorporated among others.

Our Global Above the Neck Protective Equipment Market report provides deep insight into the current and future state of the Above the Neck Protective Equipment market across various regions. Also, the study comprehensively analyzes the Above the Neck Protective Equipment market by segmenting based on geography and by product type (Head Protection, Eye Protection, Respiratory Protection, and Hearing Protection). The report examines the market drivers and restraints that are influencing the growth in detail. The study also covers emerging market trends, developments, opportunities, and challenges in the industry. This report also covers an extensively researched competitive landscape section with profiles of major companies and their market shares and their projects.