|
The market for health and safety products was estimated
to be worth almost £700 million in 2007, according to the first
edition of the “Health and Safety Products Market” recently
published by AMA Research.
The report, which is available for
purchase at £625, investigates the recent and current trends in the
overall market for health and safety products, including comment on key
influences and future prospects, in addition to a specific analysis of
the main product sectors.
Despite its maturity, the market for health and safety
products in non-domestic applications has experienced reasonably good
levels of growth over the last three years. The market encompasses a
wide range of products from personal protective equipment (PPE) to
hygiene products, as well as first aid products and safety signs.
The report indicates that periods of
growth have been triggered by the enforcement of new regulations,
changes to existing regulations and exceptional circumstances such as
natural disasters and outbreaks of animal and human related diseases.
In the longer term, price competition is intensifying due to the gain in
share of unbranded and own brand products and the increasing use of
lower-value disposable items, while value growth has been supported by
product development, with a general trend towards higher value products
offering enhanced features in terms of comfort and protection.
The personal protective equipment
(PPE) and hygiene products sectors account for the majority of the
market, each with shares of over 40%. Defining ‘PPE’ products can be
difficult, but clothing and footwear are estimated at 47% of the sector,
with respiratory and hand protection accounting for a further 27%. In
recent years, the PPE sector has benefited from an increase in demand
following changes in legislation and the persistent threat of foot and
mouth and bird flu outbreaks, while the performance of hygiene products
has been influenced by the increased awareness of health and hygiene
issues in both public and private sector organisations, with skin care a
growing sector.
In comparison, the first aid products
sector has experienced low growth over the last three years. The last
significant piece of legislation dates from 1981, and the high level of
price competition has also restricted value growth. While the safety
signs sector had also been growing at a low annual rate, it performed
unusually well in 2007, due to the enforcement of the smoke free
legislation.
Distribution remains relatively
fragmented reflecting a wide range of end use applications, though the
general ‘industrial distributors’ and H&S specialists together account
for around 50% share.
AMA’s report
also provides an insight into the future prospects for the market for
health and safety products. Up to 2010, the annual growth rate is
likely to be lower compared to the 2005-2007 period, although new
regulations and further ‘outbreaks’ will always provide stimulus to the
market. For example, the introduction of the new
EU directive on
optical radiation in the
UK and the adoption of further measures to prevent and deal with
epidemiologic animal diseases and super bugs are likely to provide new
opportunities for growth and product development.
The “Health and Safety Products
Market” published by AMA Research is available in electronic or hard
copy format and can be ordered online at
www.amaresearch.co.uk
or by calling 01242 235 724.
| 
