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DEREKDUCK is pleased to announce that all ULTITEC products have been approved under the most recent UK legislation for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).  We are committed to supporting the UK market and supplying safe products to our valued partners.

The UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) certificate is a new requirement for PPE goods placed on the Great Britain markets (England, Wales, and Scotland), and must bear the UKCA marking, which goes into effect on January 1 2021 During the transition period, however, you can continue to use the CE marking until December 31, 2021, in most cases.

Northern Ireland is in a different situation As long as the Northern Ireland Protocol is in effect, EU conformity markings will be used to comply with EU regulations. However, if you use the UK-based Notified Body to perform mandatory third-party conformity assessment, you must also apply a UKNI (United Kingdom Northern Ireland) marking.

ULTITEC is ready to provide UKCA solutions to our partners If you require any further assistance with the use of a UKCA certificate or marking, please contact your Account Manager or derekduck@derekduck.com

The International Labor Organization (ILO) has proclaimed April 28 as “World Day for Safety and Health at Work” to encourage global prevention of occupational hazards and diseases. ULTITEC hosted an “Advocating Occupational Safety Press Event” and invited the representatives of Institute of Labor, Occupation Safety and Health, MOL, Taiwan Union of Nurses Association, Chang Jung Christian University, Fu Jen Catholic University, and National Yangming Jiaotong University jointly announced their intention to pay attention to occupational safety concerns, enforce corporate social responsibility, and ensure that every workplace worker returns home safely.

ULTITEC donated protective clothing to the three participating universities as teaching aids and offered lecture collaboration at the press event. We  expect that these potential frontline operators will embrace the proper concept of occupational safety and return home safely.

This year marks the 13th anniversary of ULTITEC. Previously, we had been through Ebola, avian flu, African swine fever, the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, the Fukushima nuclear disaster, and the Gulf of Thailand oil spill, etc. ULTITEC was protecting frontline workers so they could return home safely after the incidents. We fight alongside more than 150 million frontline heroes across 45 countries.

ULTITEC believes that what people want is not protective clothing, but to go home safely. Follow the three steps to go home safely will guide every frontline personnel to return home safe and sound.

Some frontline people thought that as long as they wear personal protective equipment (PPE) at the workplace, they will be safe and fully protected. Is that correct? In January 2021, a doctor at Taoyuan General Hospital in Taiwan still became infected while treating COVID-19 patients while wearing full PPE. So, why was the doctor still got infected under full PPE covered?

Every worker wants to return home safe and sound after the task. A while ago, we have been educating The Golden Triangle Rules to Go Home Safely from Work. Whereas, in this article, we will focus on the crucial 3 Steps to Go Home Safely as (Figure 1.) below that you must follow to make sure safely home and keep hazards away from your family.

Figure 1: The 3 Steps to Go Home Safely

Step 1: Select appropriate protective clothing

Instead of being based on the sector, the risk enforcement requirements are based on the hazards present. Also, not every frontline worker will face the same dangers, and many harmful agents are imperceptible and have a long-term impact. Therefore, before deciding on appropriate protective clothing, the initial step is to identify your occupational risks and perform a hazard assessment, which is generally listed below.

• Identify the hazards – discover what could be risky in the working environment.
• Conduct Risk Assessment – understand the type of harm that the danger may cause, and the probability of it occurring.
• Monitor risks – implement effective risk control measures.
• Review on a regular basis and update as needed.

Take identifying the chemical hazards for example. The safety manager shall evaluate what hazards the frontline operators will encounter on their daily tasks. The common phases of chemical hazards are shown in Figure 2. These harmful agents may contact the skin in a variety of ways, including jets, sprays, splashes, soaks, and direct contact.

Figure 2. The common phases of chemical hazards

If these hazards are inevitable and will potentially be contacted by frontline operators, then the safety manager should consider the required coverall for them to minimize hazardous risk.  But how do you choose the appropriate coverall?

The protective clothing chosen should comply with Regulation (EU) 2016/425, which is the most rigorous PPE standard currently in effect. Then, select the types of coveralls according to the protection level needed as CE Standard, you can also find in What should you understand about CE test standard for protective clothing? Select an appropriate coverall in accordance with CE Standard and the equivalent protection level (Figure 3.) will help you minimize the occupational risks.

Figure 3. The protective level of protective clothing

Step 2: Correct donning and doffing process

After the selection of coverall, the next crucial step is correct donning and doffing procedures. For the removal of the coverall, it is relatively critical because frontline personnel may be contaminated if he accidentally contacts the hazards on the outside of the contaminated garment by taking it off improperly or carelessly.  As a result, frontline personnel must be trained on a regular basis to ensure their safety.

The correct donning and doffing instructions are advised by ULTITEC below.

• Donning Processes

1. Select appropriate coverall and read User Instruction thoroughly.
2. Remove shoes and secure trousers into socks. Step into legs of coverall and place coverall over safety boots.
3. Pull coverall towards arms and shoulders.
4. Pull zipper halfway up. Put on a face mask (or respirator) and goggles. Pull hood over as head coverings. Cover sleeves over gloves.
5. Zip up coverall to chin and ensure hood fits tightly to face, and seal storm flap with adhesive tape if any (Applicable for Type 3 and Type 4)
6. Stretch to ensure coverall fits appropriately for ease of work movement and optimum protection.

Figure 4. ULTITEC Coverall Donning Instruction

• Doffing Processes

1. Remove adhesive tape (Applicable for Type 3 and Type 4)
2. Unzip to the waist.
3. Grab outer part and pull hood away from the head. Avoid contaminated gloves to touch the head.
4. Release the first arm and strip off the glove from behind the back.
5. Release the first arm from coverall and glove. Release second arm and glove from inside of coverall. Sit and roll down contaminated coverall from inside towards outside.
6. Draw out legs from safety boots. Use a clean hand to remove goggles and face mask (or respirator) from behind. Fold or roll into a bundle and dispose of coverall responsibly.

Figure 5. ULTITEC Coverall Doffing Instruction

Please view the full instruction here or the video ULTITEC donning and doffing instruction.

Step 3: Correct disposal after usage

It is important to properly dispose of coveralls after they have been used and removed in order to prevent people from touching the used garment. The contaminated garments must be disposed of in the same manner as contaminated waste and in accordance with national regulations. According to the World Health Organization, medical waste, such as contaminated protective clothing, should be disposed of in a closed bin after being safely removed.

Here is the correct contaminated coverall disposal instruction after usage:

1. Dispose of the used coverall separately from the rest of the trash.
2. Make sure the garbage bag with the hazardous label is firmly fastened
3. Place the bag in a lidded hazardous mark rubbish bin
4. Hand over to professional cleaning staff for follow-up disposal

Figure 6. Lidded bin and fastened bag with hazardous label	Figure 7. The Professional cleaner takes the bin

Conclusion

Don’t assume you are invincible only by wearing a coverall. Your occupational safety cannot be guaranteed if you do not select appropriate protective clothing, do not initiate the donning and doffing process correctly, and do not dispose of it correctly after use. Remembering these 3 critical steps and putting them into action effectively will help you return home safely with full preparation for the next working day.

Every year on April 28th, The World Day for Safety and Health at Work is celebrated to promote the prevention of work-related injuries. To manage occupational safety well, you can start by selecting appropriate coverall before entering the workplace. There are three important points prior to making a final decision.

 Identify your occupational risks.

If you need to shield yourself from a threat, find out if it is harmful particulates,  hazardous liquids, gas or vapor. You need to know your enemy before proceed to develop a strategy against it.

 Determine protection level needed.

Examine the physical states of the risks after they’ve been identified. Do you need antistatic to minimize particle adhesion if it is particulates? Alternatively, if it is a liquid, is it a saturated splash or a pressurized liquid jet?

Select both Product and Support Service.

Due to post epidemic era, PPE chaos is a challenge to overcome. Do look into Certifications, Technique Data Sheets, Comparison Charts or relevant technical support for a qualified coverall. Product and Support Service is equally important.

(Photo credit to Nicolas Axelrod)

Occupational Risks

50,000 liters of oil spill in the Gulf of Thailand.

Protection Level Needed

Against saturated oil and liquid splashes during the cleaning operation.

Selection of Coverall

Thailand government selected ULTITEC 3000T, the premium oil and saturated liquid splash resistant coverall, which is also CE certified with (EU) Regulation 2016/425.

ULTITEC always has tools and teams to assist when you are in doubt.  For detailed coverall selection, ULTITEC Selection App is here to make things easier. If you need more support services, contact us through derekduck@derekduck.com.

Some workplace accidents can be avoided by wearing appropriate PPE. When the hazards were identified and found most of the risks are coming from the front side of the operators during the work process, protective sleeve gown will be a great option and ULTITEC 2000 and ULTITEC 4000S Sleeve Gown provide premium protection for frontal hazards at the workplace!

Contact us to inquire about more applications in the industries and get protected now!

There are different Type 5 and Type 6 CE-certified protective clothing on the market. Some of them have the best economic option, while others claim better protection feature. Users shall therefore make an extra effort to find an appropriate protective clothing among a wide range of options. Are there any tips to choose which protective clothing is the appropriate one for you?

There are 2 facts below that you should first know before selecting appropriate Type 5 and Type 6 protective clothing.

1. Protection Purpose

This is the essential part. When you first select Type 5 and Type 6 protective clothing, do you know that Type 5 and Type 6 certifications are applied for different protection purposes and scenarios? A quick introduction to these 2 certifications is provided below.

Type 5 Certification: Dry Particle Suits
Based on Regulation EN ISO 13982-1:2004 + A1:2010, the performance requirements for chemical protective clothing include full body protection against airborne solid particles.

Type 6 Certification: Reduced Spray Suits
Based on Regulation EN 13034:2005 + A1:2009, the performance requirements for chemical protective clothing involve limited protection against liquid chemicals.

Picture 1: Brief Introduction of Type 5 and Type 6 Protective Clothing

Certifications of Type 5 and Type 6 are applied for various protection purposes and coverage of protective clothing. Type 6 coverall is more fitting if you are suffering a hazardous liquid spray risk environment. On the other hand, Type 5 coverall should then be considered if the environmental risk is related to harmful particulate matter.

1. Fabric Structure

The fabric used for protective clothing is different in order to obtain protection for different purposes. In Type 5 and Type 6 certified protective clothing, there are two common fabric options in the market, one is Multi-layer SMS fabric, while the other is PP nonwoven with a Laminated Film.

The Multi-layer SMS fabric is a good choice for the protection of particulates. It has minimum 3 layers, and the middle layer, which provides good particulate filtration is known as melt-blown. The fabric also usually provides good air permeability.  For the wording SMS, it is the combination of fabric structures, which is Spunbond (S), Melt-blown (M) and Spunbond (S). Some suppliers may offer different combinations, namely SMMS or SMMSSMS. But after all, it is the melt-blown layer provides filtration features on hazardous particulates.

The other common fabric in the market is “Laminated Film on PP nonwoven”. With the microporous film, it provides protection against liquid or fluid penetration, such as water drip, mud, liquid spray or splash. It usually provides better protection for both particulate and liquid hazards compare with SMS fabric. Depending on the film formula and material technology, not only as a liquid barrier, while the microporous film also let the air or moisture can go through.

Table 1: Comparison between Multi-layer SMS and laminated film

On the other hand, if only limited liquid spray risk and hazardous particles are the main risks you are dealing, multi-layer SMS fabric coverall may be sufficient for you as you will appreciate its’ premium breathable wearing experience.As above comparison chart, protective clothing made by laminated film fabric is a better choice than Multi-layer SMS fabric in protection for both liquid and particles, especially when you are dealing with the risk in more liquid form.

Additional Certifications

In addition to particulate and liquid protection, some additional protection marks may be identified on protective clothing. To solve these ever-changing situations in the workplace, here are several additional certifications needed to be attended to.

EN 14126	EN 1073-2	EN 1149-5	DN32781

1. EN 14126:2003 Against Biological Hazards
   It is a key standard for medical and disease control purposes in the workplace. The standard defines a set of specifications that requires 5 methods of testing to measure the fabric. These 5 different tests are included in the certification, and 4 out of 5 tests are tested in liquid form. Most SMS products cannot meet this standard. Only laminated film products are available.

• ISO 16603: Resistance to penetration by blood/fluids
• ISO 16604: Resistance to penetration by blood-borne pathogens
• ISO 22610: Resistance to wet microbial penetration
• ISO/DIS 22611: Resistance to liquid aerosol penetration
• ISO 22612: Resistance to dry microbial penetration

2. EN 1073-2:2002 Against Radioactive Contamination
   The standard has been developed to be applied to the nuclear industry without protection against ionizing radiation. With the whole suit particle protection level, the inward leakage test determines the barrier efficiency of the suit when the defined particulate size is challenged.
3. EN 1149-5:2018 Anti-Static
   The standard specifies a set of requirements and test methods for assessing the protection of the fabric against static electricity or decay. The anti-static ability can be added to both types of fabric structures. The electrostatic resistance is required when the wearer is exposed to conditions where the sparks could cause explosions or ignition.
4. DIN 32781:2010 Against Pesticides
   The test standard applies to chemical penetration, fabric strength and ergonomic criteria. It includes EN 14786, which simulates liquid drug spraying. 5 different pesticides are tested to ensure full safety against pesticides, including U46-D-Fluid (BASF), Pirimor Granulat (Syngenta), Amistar (Syngenta), Betanal Expert (Bayer) and Folicur (Bayer).  Some laminated film fabric coveralls in the market do meet and offer this standard for those agriculture application users.

Choose an Appropriate Type 5 and Type 6 Protective Clothing

After reviewing the above 2 facts and the requirement for additional certifications, you will be aware of the details to be focused on Type 5 and Type 6 protective clothing.

The advantages of protective clothing made of Laminated Film are better protection in both liquid and particulates. Therefore, it can be adopted under most working conditions. However, if the breathability is more concerned and the work risk assessment does not require the protection of premium liquids and particulates, the Multi-layer SMS fabric may be more suitable for this situation.

The structure of the fabric should not be the only factor in the selection of protective clothing, additional certifications are just as important. Please keep in mind that knowing the risk you are dealing with before entering the workplace is crucial. Then choose an appropriate coverall to protect yourself to make sure you could go home safely.

To provide a premium service and continuous support to our exclusive partner, ULTITEC recently officially launched the Arabic language on ULTITEC APP to help you refresh the product knowledge and connect with local end-users easily.

How to get the Arabic language on ULTITEC APP?

1. Simply update ULTITEC APP on APP Store or Google Play to Ver: 1.2.1
2. Set the language to Arabic, then you can start to explore the ULTITEC APP and share the product insights with your clients conveniently.

Also, remember to log in and unlock ULTITEC APP for getting valuable competitor analysis and product training videos!

ULTITEC has constantly strived to provide our exclusive partner for premium marketing support. Previously, we have highlighted the advantages of Data Center, our marketing collateral online platform in “24/7 File Helper at your fingertips!”, which including saving your time for organizing files as well as obtaining the most accurate marketing files at any time and anywhere.

Recently, in order to improve the user experience, we have updated the layout of the Data Center, and the new classifications will be easier for you to find the right marketing or product file you would like to find.

A quick brief of 4 classifications on Data Center:

1. Branding Collaterals
2. Marketing Collaterals
3. 中文素材 (Marketing Collaterals in Chinese Version)
4. Product Pages

Data Center Map:

Now you can find EDM and White Paper in

• Marketing Collaterals > Sales Kits :

– All types of EDM and White Paper, and EDM will be classified in 6 categories as the map showed above

• Product Page:

-The EDM or White Paper which is related to the product

• 中文素材 (Chinese Marketing Collaterals):

– Chinese EDM and White Paper

Click here and log in Data Center to get the up-to-date ULTITEC marketing materials and product files and get ready to explore the adventure now!

Although the COVID-19 continues to spread around the world, some travelers still need to fly for work or return to their countries. During the flight, in addition to the gears of masks, goggles, gloves, and hand sanitizer, there are still many risks that may cause infection.

As a CE certified protective clothing brand, ULTITEC provides  Must-Have Items ULTITEC 2000 as below and ensure you get enough protection during air travel.

Since the brand launched in 2008, ULTITEC has consistently adhered to the faith of letting end-users ‘Go Home Safely’. With ULTITEC, travelers will be fully protected and travel to their destinations safely.

To our esteemed Partner,

We would like to extend our appreciation and warm wishes.
May 2021 be the brightest one for you.

Happy New Year!
From all of us at ULTITEC