Specialty
Contractor

Specialty contractors work in dynamic, high-risk environments, facing challenges like electrical hazards, mechanical injuries, and exposure to extreme conditions. Our PPE offers customized protection with durable gloves, impact-resistant head protection, and breathable fabrics, ensuring safety and enhancing performance on every task.

Keeping Specialty Contractors Safe

Specialty contractors often work in challenging environments where the risks range from electrical hazards to mechanical injuries and extreme temperatures. Ensuring their safety requires protective gear that meets industry standards while addressing their unique needs. Our PPE solutions are designed with compliance in mind, offering durability, comfort, and protection tailored to the diverse tasks these workers perform. Read more »

Reinforced gloves shield against cuts and abrasions, while impact-resistant safety helmets and protective eyewear guard against head and eye injuries. For those working with electrical systems, we provide rubber-insulated gloves and arc-rated clothing to protect against electrical shock and arc flashes. Our breathable workwear and hydration solutions help prevent heat stress, ensuring workers remain comfortable and productive in hot environments.

Additionally, our high-visibility apparel ensures workers stay visible in high-traffic areas, reducing the risk of accidents. By offering PPE that meets or exceeds industry safety standards, we help specialty contractors stay safe, efficient, and compliant. This comprehensive approach to worker safety ensures a more secure jobsite and greater peace of mind for both contractors and employers.

Protection that doesn't get in the way

Specialty contractors walk a fine line.

The most valuable tools for any Specialty Contractor are their hands. The required precision and dexterity required for a day’s work is paramount. Would it be handling wires, small fasteners or specialty hand tools, gloves can’t impede the process especially when they need to protect against the job site hazards. Combining the required protection while providing second skin feel is no easy feat.

PIP® addresses challenges safety managers face with simple, innovative solutions.

Complete head-to-toe protection designed for versatility and performance
Consolidation by offering one solution for a wide range of hazards
Continuous training and resources for you and your team
Safety specialists and industry veterans that partner with you to encourage your team to invest in their own safety.

Introducing the G-TEK® PARADOX™

Our innovative 21-gauge glove is your solution for giving specialty contractors a glove that’s designed to feel ultra-lightweight and breathable while delivering exceptional dexterity and superior flexibility without compromising on cut protection.

Safety and comfort shouldn’t be a compromise.

No need to compromise when the solution is so simple.

Learn More

Looking for a complete safety solution for your team?

Check out our picks for a complete head-to-toe safety outfit for specialty contractors or contact Kerry Schimelfineg to have a conversation about putting together a custom solution for your facility.

Hand Protection

G-Tek® Paradox™

Seamless Knit PolyKor® Blended Glove with Polyurethane Coated Flat Grip on Palm & Fingers with Reinforced Thumb Crotch - 21 Gauge - Touchscreen Compatible

16-541

Head Protection

Mont-Blanc™

Type II, Cap Style Hard Hat with HDPE Shell, 4-Point Textile Suspension and Wheel Ratchet Adjustment

280-HP542R

Hearing Protection

Mega Flare™ Plus

Disposable Soft Polyurethane Foam Ear Plugs - NRR 33

267-HPF910

Safety Eyewear

Anser™

Semi-Rimless Safety Glasses with Black Frame, I/O Lens and Anti-Scratch Coating

250-AN-10114

Workwear Top

Bisley®

Long Sleeve Ripstop Work Shirt with X-Airflow™ Ventilation

400M6490

Workwear Pants

Bisley®

Stretch Ripstop Vented Work Pants with X-Airflow™ Ventilation

411M6150

Footwear

PUMA® Safety

Granite Hd Mt MID Composite Toe Impact Resistant Toe Cap, Electrical Hazard protection, Slip Resistant, Water Proof, Safety Boots

632735-400

ASK THE EXPERT image of expert Kerry Schimelfenig

ASK THE EXPERT Kerry Schimelfenig - Business Development Manager, Construction

Kerry has over 20 years of expertise in the safety industry. He holds 20 industry-specific OSHA certifications, including Outreach Trainer credentials for both General Industry and Construction. He serves on the Executive Board of the ASSP – NEPA Chapter and is an Adjunct Instructor for the Mid Atlantic OSHA OTI at NCC and LCC colleges. He also participates on multiple ANSI/ASSP A10 committees.

As one of 150 PIP safety experts, Kerry helps standardize PPE to reduce costs, prevent injuries, and boost productivity.

Specialty Contractor Hazards
- Electrical Hazards - Exposure to live wires, electrical systems, and arc flashes
- Slips, Trips and Falls - Working at heights or on unstable surfaces
- Mechanical Injuries - Cuts, crush injuries, or impacts from tools, equipment, and machinery
- Exposure to Hazardous Materials - Handling chemicals, asbestos, or other dangerous substances
- Confined Spaces - Working in tight or enclosed areas with limited ventilation
- Heat Stress - Working in high temperatures or under direct sunlight, leading to dehydration or heatstroke
- Cold Stress - Working in cold temperatures, leading to hypothermia, frostbite, trench foot or chilblains
- Noise Exposure - Prolonged exposure to loud machinery or equipment, leading to hearing damage
- Respiratory Hazards - Inhalation of dust, fumes, or vapors from construction materials or equipment
- Sharp Objects - Handling materials like glass, metal, or wood, which may cause cuts or puncture wounds
Industry Standards
OSHA 29 CFR 1926
OSHA's construction standards require employers to assess jobsite hazards and provide appropriate PPE at no cost to workers.
Key sections cover equipment for common construction risks such as falls, head injuries, hand and foot protection and electrical hazards:
- Subpart E:
  - 1926.95: General Requirements for PPE
  - 1926.96: Foot Protection
  - 1926.97: Electrical Protective Equipment
  - 1926.98: Hand Protection
  - 1926.99: Head Protection
  - 1926.52: Occupational Noise Exposure
- Subpart L:
  - 1926.451: Scaffolding Safety
  - 1926.1053: Ladder Safety PPE
- Subpart M:
  - 1926.500–503: Fall Protection
- Subpart D & I (Select Provisions):
  - 1926.300–302: PPE for Handling Hand and Power Tools
OSHA 29 CFR 1910
OSHA's general industry standards require employers to assess workplace hazards and provide suitable PPE at no cost to employees.
Specific sections cover various PPE types:
- Subpart I:
  - 1910.132: General Requirements for PPE
  - 1910.133: Eye and Face Protection
  - 1910.134: Respiratory Protection
  - 1910.135: Head Protection
  - 1910.136: Foot Protection
  - 1910.137: Electrical Protective Equipment
  - 1910.138: Hand Protection
- Subpart G:
  - 1910.95: Occupational Noise Exposure - Hearing Protection 
- Subpart Z:
  - 1910.1200: Hazard Communication (HazCom) - Chemical Protection
ANSI/ISEA Standards
- ANSI/ISEA Z89.1: Industrial head protection standards, including classifications for impact protection (Type I or Type II) and electrical resistance (Class G, E, or C)
- ANSI/ISEA 105: Classification of gloves based on cut, puncture, abrasion, and chemical resistance
- ANSI/ISEA 107: Standards for high-visibility safety apparel and accessories, categorized by performance class based on visibility needs
- ANSI/ISEA Z87.1: Eye and face protection from impact, dust, debris, and chemical splashes 
- ANSI/ASSP A10.50-2024: Standard is designed to provide comprehensive guidelines for managing heat stress in construction and demolition industries, though it can also be adapted for other outdoor work environments. It emphasizes key measures to protect workers from heat-related illnesses, which range from minor issues like heat rashes to severe conditions such as heat stroke.
- ANSI A14: Standards for ladder safety, including appropriate PPE use
- ANSI/ASA S12.6: Noise reduction ratings (NRR) for hearing protection devices
EN Standards
- EN 388: European standard for mechanical protection gloves
- EN 374: Standards for gloves resistant to chemicals and microorganisms
- EN 166: European standard for industrial eye protection
NIOSH Standards
- 42 CFR Part 84: NIOSH standard that defines the testing, performance and certification requirements for all types of respirators used in workplace settings
  - Silica Dust Exposure NIOSH-approved N95, R95 or P100 filtering facepiece respirators
  - Chemical Exposure (Gases & Vapors) IOSH-certified air-purifying respirators (APRs) with appropriate chemical cartridges e.g., Organic Vapor (OV), Acid Gas, or Multi-Gas cartridges
  - Combined Exposure Respirators with combination cartridges/filters (e.g., OV/P100) 
NFPA Standards
- NFPA 2112: Flame-resistant garments for protection against flash fires
- NFPA 70E: Electrical safety standards, including PPE requirements for arc flash protection
ASTM Standards
- ASTM F2413: Standards for protective footwear, including impact, compression, and puncture resistance
- ASTM F1506: Standards for FRC used in electrical arc and thermal hazards
- ASTM F1891: Protective clothing standards for arc and flame resistance