The global above the waist PPE market is set to witness remarkable growth by 2028 owing to growing concerns pertaining to workers’ safety in hazardous environments.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the industry witnessed a huge spike in product demand due to the expansion of the healthcare industry with continuous research & development, along with clinical testing to curb the spread of the virus. Moreover, major market players have been focusing on product innovation and effective strategies to maintain a strong presence in the market. To cite an instance, in June 2022, MSA Safety, a safety products manufacturer, unveiled its new product line of firefighter protective clothing designed specifically for consumers in Europe, providing extra safety and comfort.

The above the waist PPE market has been segregated on the basis of channel, end-use, product, and region.

From the product point of view, the industry has been divided into eye & face protection, head protection, respiratory protection, hand protection, and hearing protection. The head protection product segment has been further bifurcated into safety helmets & hard hats (class A, class B, and class C) and bump caps. The safety helmets & hard hats segment is foreseen to grow at a CAGR of over 6.5% through the assessment period.

The class A safety helmets & hard hats segment is expected to expand at around 6.5% CAGR through 2028. The class B and class C segments are set to progress at more than 6% CAGR between 2022 and 2028. The bump caps head protection segment is estimated to grow at nearly 5.5% CAGR over the study timeframe due to rising incidences of head injuries across varied industries.

The eye & face protection product segment of the above the waist PPE market has been categorized into laser safety goggles, safety spectacles, welding shields, face shields, and goggles. The safety spectacles segment is poised to record substantial growth at a CAGR of approximately 7% through the assessment timespan. Meanwhile, the goggles segment is also foreseen to depict roughly 7% CAGR over the review period as goggles are widely used to prevent eye damage in the workplace.

The welding shields segment is speculated to amass robust gains, progressing at over 6.5% CAGR through the forecast timeline as a result of mounting industrial activities. The laser safety goggles segment is primed to exhibit remarkable growth at a CAGR of more than 7.5% from 2022 to 2028. Likewise, the face shields segment is anticipated to develop at a CAGR of above 6% through the study span attributed to the increasing need to protect the face from workplace hazards.

Under hearing protection, the above the waist PPE market has been further segmented into pre-formed or molded earplugs, single-use earplugs, and earmuffs. The single-use earplugs segment is likely to expand at a CAGR exceeding 5% through the review period due to product penetration in the construction and mining industry.

Similarly, pre-formed or molded earplugs are calculated to progress at a CAGR of more than 5.5% between 2022 and 2028 owing to their use by motor enthusiasts and swimmers. The earmuffs segment is slated to exhibit significant growth at around 6% CAGR due to increasing dust, noise pollution, and temperature variations.

Under respiratory protection, the above the waist PPE market has been divided into SCBA-fire service, emergency escape devices, SCBA-industrial, and APR-disposal. The SCBA-fire service segment is forecast to register solid growth at a CAGR of over 6.5% attributed to its use in fire stations, chemical plants, and ironworks. The SCBA-industrial segment is set to grow at above 7.5% CAGR through the assessment timeframe on account of rising respiratory concerns in mining, petrochemical, chemical, and nuclear industries.

The above the waist PPE market size from the APR-disposal segment is expected to showcase sturdy progress at a CAGR of roughly 7% over the assessment timeline driven by soaring consumer inclination toward healthcare workers’ safety against waste anesthetic gases, biological hazards, and chemicals. The emergency escape devices market is estimated to expand at a CAGR of about 6% through the review timespan owing to its increasing demand in industries like oil & gas, marine, labs, and hospitals.

With regard to end-use, the above the waist PPE market has been split into mining, manufacturing, transportation, construction, pharmaceuticals, oil & gas, food, chemical, and others. The food industry is speculated to surpass a valuation of $1.35 billion by 2028 as a result of a shift in eating preferences of the population. The pharmaceuticals segment is anticipated to depict sizable expansion at a CAGR of over 5% through the forecast timeframe due to the expanding healthcare sector across the world.

The transportation segment, on the other hand, is slated to record a valuation of around $3.55 billion by the end of 2028 supported by burgeoning trade activities. In 2021, the mining industry exceeded $2 billion in revenue. Furthermore, the others segment is poised to be valued at about $860 million by the end of the study period.

In the regional landscape, the Latin America above the waist PPE market is primed to attain a valuation of nearly $2.5 billion by 2028 propelled by prevalent concerns regarding workers’ safety.