Impact of Style on a Personal Protective Equipment Program

Background: Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has been used to help prevent occupational injuries. The Northeast Center for Agricultural Health (NEC) started doing their part in 1989, selling farmers a limited variety of PPE for daily tasks. Methods: Surveys were conducted at farm expositions and in-house asking potential customers: 1) what they thought about our current product line; 2) is style a decision factor when purchasing/ wearing PPE; 3) What piece of PPE do they use most often; and 4) is there any PPE they are interested in purchasing that we do not currently have. Result: Consumer feedback aided in the redesign of the product line and catalog. The new product line is constantly changing to be in compliance with safety standards as well as the latest trends in fashion. This is evident by the large increase in sales of our safety glasses line alone. The catalog is more esthetically pleasing, as a smaller formatted booklet that is easily accessible, and easier to store. Its color pictures give potential buyers a true understanding of what they are buying. Providing desired products increases sales, in turn increasing protection for farmers. Conclusion: Expected outcomes find: 1) A more attractive product line and PPE catalog can increase sales; 2) style has an impact on PPE sales; 3) Improved sales, increases the amount of protection farmers have.