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Special Report: Clothing the workforce

Oil & Gas Middle East speaks to Magus International’s general manager, Lisa Harwood, about the growing demand for HSSE clothing in the GCC

Special Report: Clothing the workforce
Special Report: Clothing the workforce

What HSSE clothing and equipment does Magus specialise in, and what are some of its most popular products?

Magus International represents a vast range of personal protective equipment (PPE) and clothing, catering to both general and specialist applications. We currently represent over 40 globally recognised brands that are all experts in their field. The most popular product ranges for the oil and gas sector are our flame retardant (FR) clothing by Workrite; hazmat/chemical/gas protective clothing by Respirex; gas detection equipment by RAE Systems; and fall arrest systems by Capital Safety.

However, safety helmets (Scott), breathing apparatus (Scott), safety glasses (Bolle), gloves (Polyco), and footwear (Cofra), are all also big sellers for us.

Which companies in the GCC do you supply and what are some of your major contracts?

We supply to Saudi Aramco, Saudi Electric, ADNOC Group, Sabic affiliates, Aramco refineries and Samref, to name a few. The FR clothing contracts for Saudi Electric and Samref are a couple of the largest we supply.

What are the particular challenges of designing clothing and products for the Middle East, compared with other regions?

We do not design or manufacture PPE or clothing ourselves; however, we work closely with our suppliers, which support us in terms of product solutions. Due to the climate, the main challenge for this region is manufacturing products that offer a good level of wearer comfort whilst conforming to the relevant safety standards. Wearer comfort is essential to ensure employees use their PPE and clothing correctly. Heat stress is a serious health risk to workers in high temperatures and needs to be minimised through product design wherever [possible].

How much is product design in the oil and gas industry driven by legislation, compared with feedback from customers?

Ultimately, product design is driven by legislation and the requirement to conform to the relevant safety standards. However, as innovators within the industry, our brands are continuously working within these parameters to improve both the design and the materials used. Research and development not only focusses on improving the technical standards, but also on improving wearer comfort, value for money and durability. Customer feedback is an essential part of this process.

What are the typical demands of oil and gas customers in the Middle East when it comes to clothing and equipment?

The oil and gas industry in the Middle East has historically maintained high standards of health and safety policies. The industry typically demands high-quality and high-performing products from globally respected brands.

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