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Construction, mining, and drilling for oil and gas are some of the messiest and most dangerous jobs out there. For this reason, anyone working in those fields needs protective clothing that works and won&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8217;t fail.

While traits like fire resistance and durability continue to be key, a greater need for comfort, durability, sustainability, and size diversity are some of the issues currently being tackled in this market.

Courtesy of TenCate

Protective Yet Comfortable

Making protective fabric clothing comfortable is a big trend right now, says , associate professor, Faculty of Agricultural, Life and Environmental Science in the Human Ecology Department at the University of Alberta, Canada. &/aatccnews_2024-05a/8220;The objective is that you still need to be fire resistant, but can you be comfortable, too,&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8221; she explains. &/aatccnews_2024-05a/8220;So, that&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8217;s looking at different fiber blends (and) looking at different fabric structures. (Thinking) about the garments not only being protective but are the people going to be able to perform their task. So, comfort, dexterity, range of motion—all those different aspects. And this applies to construction, mining, and drilling, but it applies to everybody.&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8221;

&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8220;The comfort factor is huge, because it directly impacts employee satisfaction, compliance, and productivity,&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8221; adds Elizabeth Briggs, global marketing manager for , which offers chemical protective clothing made from Tyvek, Tychem, and ProShield fabrics.

Part of comfort also means making protective clothing that fits a wide range of body types. &/aatccnews_2024-05a/8220;There is a need for diversity in fit, not just between males and females, but accounting for different body configurations,&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8221; Briggs explains. &/aatccnews_2024-05a/8220;There isn’t always a height/weight correlation, so it can be tricky to find a garment that fits every individual configuration. I see manufacturers working toward making apparel that can adapt to different sizes and shapes.  Perhaps allowing for flexibility or stretch in some areas—to grow and shrink with the person—or different garment features and configurations.  There is also a continuous drive toward comfort within the fabric makeup—both with the touch and feel as well as flexibility and temperature management.&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8221;

Courtesy of DuPont.

Durability & Sustainability

Another key trend in the protective clothing market is durability and sustainability, says Michael Laton, vice president of global strategy and innovation at , who specializes in creating flame-resistant apparel fabrics for use throughout industrial, emergency response, and military markets worldwide.

&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8220;We’re seeing a trend towards fabrics that can withstand the rigors of industrial laundering while maintaining their shape and fit,&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8221; he notes. &/aatccnews_2024-05a/8220;Additionally, there’s a growing emphasis on using more sustainable raw materials and processes during production.&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8221;

Dolez also says there are different initiatives to try to improve the sustainability of fabrics used in protective clothing. For example, she mentions a company headquartered in Vancouver called , which recycles high-performance, fire-protective fabrics such as coveralls.

&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8220;They are made of aramid fibers, which are inherently fire resistant,&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8221; Dolez explains. &/aatccnews_2024-05a/8220;Coveralls (are used) for a certain amount of time, but then they become dirty &/aatccnews_2024-05a/8230; there&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8217;s oil stains and you can&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8217;t really wash them, so then people are maybe at a higher danger in terms of getting on fire. And then the problem is what did you do with it? They&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8217;re expensive fibers &/aatccnews_2024-05a/8230; (and) synthetic fibers so they&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8217;re going to take a lot of time to decompose in landfills or will never decompose in landfills.&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8221;

&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8220;And so, this company is taking used fire-protective garments &/aatccnews_2024-05a/8230; back to fibers,&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8221; she adds. &/aatccnews_2024-05a/8220;And then they&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8217;re working with companies, spinners, to make the fibers into yarns. And then weavers, knitters, different manufacturers to then make fabrics out of them &/aatccnews_2024-05a/8230; that are made into new fire-resistant coveralls. So, the loop is closed so that you don&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8217;t need to produce more.&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8221;

Courtesy of DuPont

Meeting Specialized Needs

Another trend Laton says they have seen recently in protective clothing fabrics is the idea of multi-hazard protection. &/aatccnews_2024-05a/8220;Workers often face multiple risks simultaneously,&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8221; he explains. &/aatccnews_2024-05a/8220;Fabrics that offer multi-norm compliance, providing protection against a collection of hazards like flash fire, arc blast, and Hi-Vis, are in high demand.&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8221;

Briggs agrees, &/aatccnews_2024-05a/8220;We are definitely seeing the need to have comfort, [and] protect against heat stress, while also maintaining the protective barrier. We also see a trend in garments that provide a dual (or more) hazard protection purpose. This could be Fire Resistance + Chemical, or Fire Resistance + High Viz + Arc, or even combinations of all four and more.&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8221;

Additionally, Briggs says they are also seeing an increased interest in more accessories or alternatives to full body-coverage apparel, &/aatccnews_2024-05a/8220;which allows for a person to don and off a certain type of apparel when performing a certain task only, such as aprons or sleeves,&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8221; she adds.

Predictions of Future Protective Clothing Trends

Industry experts agree all these current trends will continue into the future thanks to new innovations.

For example, in the comfort trend for protective clothing, Laton predicts the &/aatccnews_2024-05a/8220;casualization&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8221; of workwear and protective clothing will be front and center moving forward. To meet this demand, TenCate launched a new fabric called Tecasafe 360+ in 2023, which Laton says represents this shift.

&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8220;It’s rooted in the growing desire among workers for apparel that feels more casual, more comfortable—more like the clothes they wear when they’re off the clock with their friends and family,&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8221; he explains. &/aatccnews_2024-05a/8220;It’s all about comfort, while maintaining the level of protection that the workers need to do their jobs. And if you look at modern casual clothes, that comfort element really comes back to flexibility and stretch.&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8221;

Courtesy of TenCate

And Dolez believes smart textiles will start playing a bigger role in protective clothing, such as a fabric that could help with temperature regulation. &/aatccnews_2024-05a/8220;It can be really cold in the winter, it can be really hot in the summer, and it affects the health of the people, affects the safety, (and) affects their ability to work,&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8221; she explains. &/aatccnews_2024-05a/8220;So that means adding smart functionalities to clothing that could provide either heat in the winter (or) it could be providing coolness in the summer.&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8221;

Additionally, smart textiles could be one day used to help monitor the health of workers in the field, Dolez says. &/aatccnews_2024-05a/8220;Especially if we&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8217;re thinking about people remote or isolated, people who are working on their own, and then if there&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8217;s a problem, nobody&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8217;s going to be around to know that they&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8217;re in trouble,&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8221; she continues. &/aatccnews_2024-05a/8220;So, heart rate sensors, breathing sensors, different temperature sensors in their garment that would record their condition and that would send it continuously to a base station. &/aatccnews_2024-05a/8230; Also non-motion tracking—if the person, for example, falls and he&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8217;s not getting up—that&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8217;s another area where it can really help the safety of workers.&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8221;

With environments and conditions constantly changing for those working in the construction, mining, and drilling industries, there&/aatccnews_2024-05a/8217;s no denying their protective clothing must be able to adapt. Fabric and end-product manufacturers will continue to meet the demands seen now and the ones to come to make sure these hard-working men and women are comfortable and safe.

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ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥ the Author

 is a journalist, editor, and freelance writer with more than 25-years’ experience. A former associate editor for Nonwovens Industry, her byline can be found in a variety of consumer and trade publications, with past and current clients including Medical News Today, IAAPA’s Funworld Magazine, Rinksider Magazine, International Bowling Industry magazine, and HomeTalk.com, as well as ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥Review and ÐãÉ«Ö±²¥News.