The Supply Lifeline to The public sector

The Waste industry is inherently hazardous, with operatives working on a daily basis with toxic, heavy, and potentially injurious materials and substances. As a result, Waste and Recycling teams are reliant upon effective, durable protective equipment and workwear which maximises dexterity, while minimising or eradicating potential risks.

Within SMI, our Research and Product Development division has worked consistently with the Waste and Recycling industry, collaborating with our customers to source innovative new materials and products, and design and manufacture outstanding protective gear.

Street cleansing incorporates a variety of different tasks such as street sweeping, emptying public litter bins, removing graffiti, killing weeds and winter maintenance (such as gritting).

Due to the varied nature of duties involved, street cleaners require suitable PPE for the specific task at hand. For example, staff emptying bins are at risk of needlestick injury and will require needle-resistant hand protection.

Grounds maintenance covers a wide array of activities, such as grass cutting, weeding, pruning, hedge cutting, parks cleansing (litter and bin clearance, etc.), and more.

Operatives cannot work without wearing the correct PPE, so selecting the most suitable safety gear and ensuring delivery is on time and in full is a must!

Building maintenance and caretaking includes (but isn't limited to) landscaping, interior building cleaning, pest control, exterior building cleaning, street and parking lot cleaning and maintenance, and building system maintenance.

Appropriate workwear and PPE is of the utmost importance to ensure the safety of all staff, as well as ensuring smooth operations.

Housing associations are private, not-for-profit organisations that provide low-cost housing for people in need of a home.

Staff within this sector can undertake a variety of tasks, such as building repairs, maintenance and safety checks, cleaning, estate management, grounds maintenance and caretaking, and more. PPE and workwear can, therefore, be as varied as the duties at hand in order to keep staff comfortable and safe.

Highway services encompass a huge range of tasks from carriageway surfacing and repairs, road and motorway studs, road and line marking, planned and reactive maintenance, safety inspections, and more.

High visibility workwear is an absolute must in this sector, as well as many other PPE items such as head protection, hearing protection, safety footwear, and hand protection.