Body Armour – Why?

Posted on 01/05/2013 by Robert Kaiser

Parking Enforcement Officers and Public Transport Professionals are frequently subjected to verbal abuse and physical assaults. We at PPSS Group strongly believe that user friendly and lightweight body armour will help protect these front-line professionals.

In an ever changing world, where a lack of respect and lack of discipline are the order of the day, appropriate protective clothing such as bullet resistant vests or stab resistant vests and similar types of body armour have become an essential piece of equipment for many security and other domestic frontline professionals.

We all need to understand that a lack of adequate safety measures can put an individual at unnecessary risk, and cause unacceptable injury or harm. Body armour have therefore regrettably become a real necessity within a number of domestic frontline professions.

The United Kingdom’s Health and Safety Laboratory conducted a number of case studies about 10 years ago, and approached over 400 organisations of various sizes and across a range of different occupations. Detailed questionnaires were sent and interviews were conducted with the selected organisations and the information which they provided formed the basis of these widely respected case studies.

The outcome is of great relevance to the question: ‘Body Armour – Why?’

Highlighted Risk Areas

  • Visiting people in their home or office to enforce laws and regulations, police the system or being the bearer of bad news increases the level of risk and subsequently the need for body armour or stab vests.
  • Certain geographical areas or trouble spots are high risk, such as poor or run down council estates or high crime level areas.
  • Dealing with certain high risk individuals, such as potentially violent or aggressive members of the public, drug users or dealers, or mentally ill individuals.
  • Dealing with extremely frustrated and disappointed customers (e.g. customers extremely unhappy with the service your or your partner organisation has provided)
  • Working late at night.
  • Evicting people from their home.
  • Securing or protecting property, events or people is a professional responsibility that certainly warrants the need for body armour or stab vests.
  • Visiting unoccupied buildings.

Any of the above points should in itself be reason enough to at least consider the issue of body armour to domestic frontline services and departments. But I could highlight many more reasons, making a decision not to issue potentially life saving PPE even more controversial.

PPSS Bullet Proof Vests - Model CV1 (ultra light, extreme lightweight and exceptional good in hot and humid environments)

Corporate manslaughter and corporate homicide laws as well as health & safety regulations have been rewritten in countries around the world, in order to protect those who serve and risk their lives for others. The cost of facing potential legal action after a fatal or non-fatal incident and the cost of injured employees taking time off would outweigh the one-off cost of body armour. Assaults on personnel who are not wearing body armour or other types of protective clothing also create bad publicity for the Authority concerned, not to mention the welfare of the person involved and operational problems resulting from the injured staff being unable to work.

However, the most popular argument against body armour I have personally come across is the concern about how it might be seen by the public when frontline employees start walking around in body armour. Well, ‘perception’ is one of the most important issues within personal safety, and I very much agree with the fact that overt body armour can often be perceived as very confrontational, especially when dealing with intoxicated members of the public or those who seriously dislike authority, your organisation or personal presence to begin with.

PPSS Overt Stab Resistant Vests offering unrivaled protection from blunt force trauma and hypodermic needles

For me, frontline employees dealing with the public should be doing their utmost to express themselves as peaceful ambassadors within their line of work. COVERT body armour allow them to use their positive personality, diplomacy and negotiation skills to defuse a situation, whilst still being protected. However, we do understand that certain professionals e.g. Police, Border Control, Immigration, Customs, Parking Enforcement, Trading Standards or Licensing Enforcement Officers need to be seen as ‘Authority’ or visual deterrent… hence many within these type of organisations prefer to wear OVERT body armour or even HI VIZ OVERT body armour.

Risk Assessments & Body Armour

Regardless of the outcome of any common risk assessment, the fact of the matter is that there is always an ‘unknown’ level of risk due to unforeseen circumstances. Ordinary risk assessments might often conclude in the verdict of ‘low risk’, however these often fairly basic risk assessments are based on technical facts or ‘on-hand information’ only, and as much as I appreciate them, they often do not go beyond these facts. A risk assessment dealing with the activity of an enforcement professional having to enter someone else’s property or deal with potentially ‘unhappy’ and frustrated or aggressive customers or clients can in my opinion, never ever result in low risk. The moment such professional walks through someone’s door or deals with often unfamiliar members of the public at another location, one can simply not know who else will be in the house or who else might enter the house at a later point.  What activities have taken place prior to your visit? Who else might be going to interfere or engage in your conversation or argument at a later point?  All of these issues and questions must have an impact when discussing the potential issuing of body armour.

Here in the UK it is as follows*:

  1. Employers are required to make a “suitable and sufficient” assessment of the risks involved in their business operations.
  2. When conducting the risk assessment the employer is required to consider “reasonably foreseeable” risks, and these risks would include the possibility of an employee in a confrontational role being assaulted.
  3. Employers are obliged to use “safe systems of work” which is why they must first do a risk assessment.
  4. If the risk assessment identifies the possibility of being stabbed as a significant risk then control measures must be designed into the safe system of work to either eliminate or minimise this risk.
  5. If, having considered all potential management techniques, the risk of being stabbed cannot be reduced below a significant level then the employer should consider the use of body armour – and will have to meet the cost of such equipment.
  • * above bullet points courtesy of Andy Farrall, Health & Safety Specialist

Good question… what would you do if you were driving a car and your petrol light comes on, indicating you only have a small amount of petrol left? Would you start thinking: Will I make it home or not? Some people would be willing to take the risk in this situation. In the workplace though, in my view, it is the duty of the employer to not allow their employees to take unknown risks on their own accord without the provision of equipment and training to protect them should they make a mistake in their own judgement. ‘Better safe than sorry’ and ‘Prevention is better than cure’ are two great sayings, making more sense within corporate health & safety than anywhere else. I hope you would stop and get some fuel, because you want to be on the safe side. You might have made it, but you didn’t want to take that risk. The bottom line is you cannot afford to break down. The fact that some professional’s activity involves a rather ‘unknown risk’ must urge key decision makers to remain at least open minded when it comes to body armour, stab vests, or additional training that can be made available.

‘Seat Belt’ Comparison

Recommending body armour does not mean we suggest you are in danger and neither does it mean you should get paranoid or scared 24 hours a day.  I simply say that you will have a higher chance of remaining unharmed in the unlikely, but nevertheless possible, case of something going wrong. Wearing personal protective equipment can be compared to wearing a seat belt when driving a car. We do not put the seat belt on because we believe we are going to have an accident today. We are simply acknowledging the fact that there is an exceptionally small chance that we might crash. Yet, if this chance becomes reality, you have increased the chance of survival by wearing a seat belt.

We at PPSS Body Armour are globally respected and renowned experts in body armour for civil and homeland security services, as well as domestic frontline services, such as paramedics, hospital security, brand protection, investigation teams, local authorities, enforcement teams, public transport, university security and many others.

Should you ever have any questions in reference to body armour, then please do not hesitate and contact my team, and in the strictest of confidence they will help you to the best of their ability.  This is exactly what we are all about!

If you want to speak with me or my team about lightweight body armour and how they potentially can help you within your line of work… please call +44 (0) 845 5193 953 or email info@ppss-group.com or visit www.ppss-group.com

For all U.S. and Canada based inquiries please be so kind and visit the website of our North American division www.ppss-northamerica.com email info@ppss-northamerica.com or call 800-928-4802

Take good care of yourself!

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Understanding Concealable Bullet Resistant Vests !

Posted on 26/04/2013 by Robert Kaiser

Personal Security Detail : JULIA GILLARD (Date: 26th January 2012)

Before going into technical specifications and other rather important aspects of  concealable bullet resistant vests there is one thing I must say right at the beginning of my blog:  To look after, or to be responsible for the personal security and safety of another human being is without question one of the very best and most rewarding professions one can be part of.

If this is something you are part of… please ensure you are looking after yourself just as well !

Your own security and personal safety

Your surely exceptional ability to collect and analyse all available relevant information, and turn it into real intelligence will make you be, or become one of the very best in your field… because you will be able not just to do an outstanding job in improving the personal security of your principal or dignitary, but also look after your own safety, as good intelligence will help you plan a few steps ahead and put effective ‘safety nets’ in place.

However, the matter of fact is that sometimes things don’t go to plan. That’s exactly when you really have to think and act quickly, make crucial decisions and rely on the gear you have invested in, prior to your assignment.

A high performance concealable bullet resistant vest must be part of this gear, and my comments here will hopefully provide you with information, which will allow you to invest in the RIGHT and BEST POSSIBLE body armour for you, based on your most realistic operational duties, risks and threats.

Please be aware that beside your weapon…  your concealable bullet resistant vest will be the only piece of equipment that really can make all the difference between your life and death… between coming home safely or not at all!

Ballistic Protection Standards

PPSS High Performance Concealable Bullet Proof Vest Model CV1

Concealable bullet resistant vests are always designed as soft body armour.  Very rarely do they feature front and rear pockets for additional hard trauma plates… that’s something you will find in overtly worn body armour, primarily in use in conflict or hostile  environments e.g. war zones or politically unrest countries.

Subject to their stated protection level, concealable bullet proof vests can offer excellent protection from even the most powerful handguns and ammunition. Tested and certified protection can be offered from .38 Special and 9mm Parabellum, to .44 Magnum and .45 Magnum rounds, as well as Israel’s rather famous Uzi sub-machine gun (still one of my favourite weapons of all time).

Many countries around the world have their own ballistic protection standard. However, the best known and most respected one is known as National Institute of Justice (NIJ) standard.  The NIJ standard is recognised and respected all over the world, in comparison to the British, German or other standards, which in most cases are more dominant or relevant within homeland security services in their own country or region. Personally I wish there would be a single International Ballistic Protection Standard all body armour manufacturers have to comply with, allowing them to manufacture larger volume and offer them to government and homeland security agencies at a much better price… but I guess that’s a little too political for this blog. However, let me make it clear here… a single International Ballistic Protection Standard  would make it MUCH easier for everyone to understand what exact protection level is the ‘right’ one for them.

Looking at this most recognised ballistic standard NIJ, what would be the best possible protection level you should be looking for?  Well, the answer is simple.  I strongly suggest you go with the highest possible protection level for ‘soft’ concealable bullet resistant vests, which is the NIJ IIIA ballistic protection level. I will get to weight and thickness issues in a few moments… but be assured they don’t need to be as thick and heavy anymore as they used to be.

A NIJ Level IIIA tested and certified concealable bullet proof vest will guarantee you protection against 9 mm Full Metal Jacketed Round Nose (FMJ RN) bullets rom close range, with nominal masses of 8.0 g (124 gr) at a reference velocity of 436 m/s (1430 ft/s ± 30 ft/s) and .44 Magnum Semi Jacketed Hollow Point (SJHP) bullets, with nominal masses of 15.6 g (240 gr) at a reference velocity of 436 m/s (1430 ft/s ± 30 ft/s). It also provides protection against all handgun threats a body armour tested and certified to NIJ Level IIA and II will offer.

Only a very few concealable bullet proof vests manufacturers have recently taken ‘safety’ even to another level and offer body armour with additional protection from Tokarev Ball 7.62 x 25mm and Makarov 9 x 18mm, which is of great benefits to Personal Protection Specialists operating in Eastern European countries or the Russian Federation, or those facing realistic threats origination from this region.

Another thing I want to point out here is the risk of Far East manufactured body armour, especially those manufactured in China.  I fully understand the financial pressure many of us are currently under, but when it comes to the purchase of a potentially life saving piece of equipment… please think at least twice!  We have to accept that a Rolex is more expensive than a cheap watch,  a Rolls Royce is more expensive than a Skoda and a trip to Kaiteriteri Beach in New Zealand is more expensive than a trip to the local coast (unless you are lucky enough to live nearby).

A tested and certified high performance body armour will not be cheap… but there is no doubt it can make a long operational day in the heat less demanding and is more likely to save your life than a body armour we have no real idea on HOW and WHERE it has been made.

A very informative video demonstration of one of the world’s most advanced high performance concealable bullet proof vests developed by UK based PPSS Group can be viewed here:

Weight

Body armour technology, manufacturing capabilities and body armour design have evolved a lot over the past 10 years.  Body armour worn by the police and other enforcement agencies in most countries weigh in excess of 5kg or even 6kg and are often thicker than 20 or even 25mm.

Please let me assure you that this is totally unnecessary.  It is a well documented fact that such weight will lead to stress, fatigue and subsequently to potentially fatal human errors. Innocent members of the public could get severely injured or loose their lives if a Personal Protection Specialist suffers from fatigue due to the excessive high weight of his body armour, and subsequently makes the wrong decision, within what will most likely be an ‘extremely stressful situation’ to start with.

Many body armour manufacturers are now capable of developing body armour less than half of the above weight, using high performance materials such as DSM’s Dyneema® SB71, Honeywell’s Gold Flex® and Gold Shield®, as well as DuPont’s Kevlar® XP are leading to a noticeable reduction and stress, fatigue and any other negative side effect.

I strongly feel that in case you are looking for a concealable high performance bullet proof vest, your body armour should certainly not weigh any more than 2.5kg in today’s day in age.  Manufacturers have been competing hard in order to develop the lightest body armour in the world.  They have pushed each other to completely new levels, hence concealable bullet proof vests weighing less than 2.0kg  are now on the market, offering extraordinary ballistic protection.  We at PPSS Group have developed our CV1 High Performance Concealable Bullet Resistant Vests around the operational requirements of those professionals who are in need for simply the very best out there. Now looking at our 1.65 kg light and just 6.5mm thin high tech body armour… we KNOW it is the very best out there.

Blunt Forced Trauma

What is ‘blunt forced trauma’?

Blunt Forced Trauma is the non-penetrating injury resulting from the rapid deformation of armours covering the body. The deformation of the surface of a body armour in contact with the body wall arises from the impact of a bullet or other projectile on its front face. The deformation is part of the energy absorbing process that captures the projectile. In extreme circumstances, the blunt forced trauma may result in death, even though the projectile has not penetrated the body armour. An escalation of the available energy of bullets and the desire of armour designers to minimise the weight and bulk of personal armour systems will increase the risk of blunt forced trauma in Personal Protection Specialists.

In order to be concealable or covert a bullet resistant vest needs to be as thin as possible.  Now this is not as easy as we all would like it to be.  The reason behind is the extremely dangerous risk of blunt forced trauma injuries.  All modern materials being used to manufacture bullet proof vests make it literately impossible for a ‘bullet’ to penetrate.  The much higher risk is the risk of blunt trauma injuries.  The thinner the body armour, the more attention the manufacturer must pay to protect the wearer from such injury.  I am sure you don’t fancy to see your body armour stop the ‘bullet’… but die later on in hospital from internal bleeding or other internal injuries!

Concealability

The aspect of concealability (is this actually a proper word?) is of immense importance… for you personally anyway, but even more likely for your principal.  Of course, there are a number of high profile musicians, actors and other type of artists out there, who get a real kick out of being surrounded by ‘hundreds’ of massive guys who look as when they can easily crush you in one hand. However, the type of principal/dignitary I had in my mind when writing this blog is the high profile business executive and political, religious or cultural leader, who are much more likely to want you to blend in and be more ‘unnoticeable’ to the public. You might even be required to adapt to their dress code, which can range from wearing just about anything starting from a suit and casual wear right up to golf clothing and other sort of training gear… so your concealable bullet proof vests really wants to be 100% CONCEALABLE!

The fact is an assault might take place even when your principal is relaxed, surrounded by friends and colleagues… things sometimes happen… and we do not see them coming:

If the Bodyguard of Australia’s Prime Minister Julia Gillard in the above video was wearing a bullet proof vest on that day… we cannot see it… and neither can a potential assailant… and that’s exactly what you should be aiming for too!

Please note a good modern bullet resistant vest panel can be less than 10mm thin.  In fact, some concealable high performance bullet proof vests are as thin as 7mm and with the assistance and backing of specially designed trauma liner they still outperform existing body armour, which used to be heavy, bulky, thick and restrictive.

Comfort

Comfort is about how you feel when you wear your concealable bullet proof vest.  Weight, thickness and flexibility are three of the many aspects, which everyone should carefully consider before purchasing this type of protective equipment.

The wearability especially in hot and humid environments is also an important aspect. Please let me assure you that wearing a bullet proof vest will always make you sweat. The question is just how much?

In Middle Eastern countries, Australia, South America or Africa we have to accept the fact that temperatures can often exceed 40 degrees Celsius.  For a Personal Protection Specialist wearing a concealable bullet proof vest in such condition is a serious ‘burden’  and this professional must be able to get on with the tasks on hand without excessive body heat implications or severe risks of dehydration.

Temperature regulating fabrics, such as Outlast® space technology (as used for all PPSS Bullet Resistant Vests), or moisture-wicking technical fabrics, such as Coolmax® are now being used as base layer for high performance bullet proof vests, making them ideal for those Personal Protection Specialists operating in hot and humid environments. I urge you to find out if your potential future body armour is offering this level of ‘luxury’.

As the CEO of PPSS Group (and as someone who has worn covert body armour in some rather challenging environments and circumstances) I can say that our bullet resistant vests have been trialed by, tested by and supplied to diplomatic protection units, special forces personnel, law enforcement officers and prison transport teams in countries around the world.

One of our best attributes is our confidentiality… we know there are some of our closest allies, associates and colleagues out there wearing our high performance bullet resistant vests… trusting our equipment.  You know what?  They really can !!!

Please feel free to comment on this blog.  It would be a pleasure to hear from you!

If you want to speak with me or my team about bullet resistant vests and how they potentially can help you within your line of work… please call +44 (0) 845 5193 953 or email info@ppss-group.com or visit www.ppss-group.com

For all U.S. and Canada based inquiries please be so kind and visit the website of our North American division www.ppss-northamerica.com email info@ppss-northamerica.com or call 800-928-4802

Take good care of yourself!

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PPSS Group is offering you our confidential manufacturing capabilities and service!

Posted on 21/04/2013 by Robert Kaiser

I am very much aware of many of our distressed associates, customers and clients who have made up-front payment to professional appearing manufacturing facilities in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and other Middle East or Far East countries.

PPSS Manufacturing - Ammunition Bags

Just last week alone two close associates of mine made contact with me… one from South Africa and one from Denmark. Both had sent a healthy amount of money to firms in Sialkot, Pakistan, in order to manufacture tactical leather gloves in one instance, and ammo pouches in the other case.  They never received the products they had ordered.

It is truly shocking to see how many of these transactions result in nothing but negativity, no goods received, sub-standard quality and subsequent legal wars.

I have been visiting many of these Middle Eastern countries and manufacturing firms, often after great product images had been sent to me via email, with hyperlinks to some stunning looking websites and making claims I struggled to believe.  So, me being me, I decided to fly over and meet some of these facilities.  Over the past six years I had the ‘pleasure’ to meet 50+ firms and please let me say… regardless what you will be promised from these firms… child labour is a major way of saving overheads for these firms… health and safety is something many struggle to spell correctly and manufacturing quality, communication, integrity and honesty is not on top of the list of most of these firms.

  • Have you ever been let down by your current manufacturer?
  • Have you ever made payment and never received goods or goods not manufactured to the standard you were promised?
  • Are you considering to get some tactical gear manufactured, but are worried things might go wrong?
  • Have you seen a product elsewhere you really like, but would like to see further improved and branded under your own company name?

Please let me assure you… the design, development and manufacturing capabilities of my firm PPSS Group are simply outstanding. PPSS Body Armour are without question among the very very best in the world… and this means from both, the performance just as much as the manufacturing quality point of view.

PPSS Manufacturing - Tactical Vests

Our clients and customers include Special Forces, law enforcement agencies, correctional facilities, government agencies, global security services providers and some of the largest glass and metal processing firms in the world.  They are our customers because we genuinely understand terminologies such as ‘quality’, ‘efficiency’, ‘reliability’ and ‘confidentiality’.

PPSS Group are experts in ‘CONFIDENTIALITY’… and we are more than happy to keep our  potential manufacturing involvement and relationship strictly private. In fact we are more than happy to manufacture your tactical gear and add your logo to every single product we manufacture for you without my firm’s name ever being mentioned.

Take advantage of our truly exceptional and strictly confidential design, development and manufacturing capabilities in the European Union and the Middle East. Please visit our new webpage: CLICK HERE

PPSS Manufacturing - Ammo Pouches

Maybe we can help you to save money… but what we will be able to do is offer you real peace of mind.  You WILL get your tactical gear in exchange for your money… you WILL love our manufacturing quality… and you WILL be able to trust us 100%… no question about it!

If you want to speak with us about our confidential manufacturing service and discuss all of your available options then please call us +44 (0) 845 5193 953 or email info@ppss-group.com or visit www.ppss-group.com.

In case you are based in either Canada or the U.S. please feel free to email our North American office info@ppss-northamerica.com

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Brutal Assaults On Correctional Officers Highlight A Real Need For Body Armour

Posted on 09/04/2013 by Robert Kaiser

Eric Williams, 34, a corrections officer from Nanticoke was killed by an inmate at a federal prison in Wayne County. RIP!

Yes, for me there is no question about it… assaults on prison or correctional officers highlight a real need for high performance body armour.

Just a few weeks ago we had to read once again about the harsh reality of this so ‘little discussed’ profession.

“A corrections officer from Nanticoke was killed by an inmate at a federal prison in Wayne County last night, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Eric Williams, 34, was killed by an inmate who used a homemade weapon at the U.S. Penitentiary,Canaan, a federal prison for male inmates. He was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead about 11:30 p.m”.

Please be assured, if you are a prison or correctional officer, we at PPSS Group respect you, we want to help you… and more importantly we genuinely care about you!

These are just a few of the news snips of 2012:

We must understand better, and remind ourselves that we cannot change the aggressive behaviour of some prisoners. There is simply no doubt that a prisoner consuming drugs, illegal substances or self made alcohol can become hostile and violent within a split of a second, regardless of the prison or correctional officers excellent communication skill and calm personality.

At the end of the story an officer in such institution can be, and often is, the bearer of bad news e.g. informing the prisoner of any disciplinary, restriction of privileges, bad family news, cancellation of visits, or of the simple news that his/her cell will be searched… all of which can of course create all sorts of physical reactions.

We also need to remind ourselves that prisoners have got plenty of time on hand to develop tools to carry out acts of that aggression.  The ideas to create make shift weapons, e.g. sharpened table and bed frame legs, shanks made out of plastic, shanks made our of porcelain, sharpened wood or pieces of mirror, and the idea of melting razor blades into tooth brushes and turning pens and pencils into weapon have not been developed out of 5 minutes of simple boredom.  These ideas have been developed following hours and hours of malicious thought processes, and even the very best prison or correctional officer can one day be on the receiving end of such ‘thought process’.

PPSS Covert Stab Resistant Vests, also offering unrivaled protection from blunt force trauma and hypodermic needles.

A publication of the American Correctional Officer once claimed that 33.5% of all assaults in prisons and jails are committed by inmates against prison officers. Please view here.

According to official statistics obtained by the Howard League for Penal Reform show that recorded assault incidents in prison in England and Wales have risen by 61 per cent between 2000 and 2009. Based on this statistic prison officers at Hindley Young Offenders Institution, the largest child prison in Europe, are particularly affected with assaults on staff up by an astonishing 967 per cent.

Here in the UK we all will remember the absolutely atrocious attack on prison officers at the Frankland High Security Prison in March 2010, almost costing the lives of two prison officers? This is not a country specific problem, but rather a serious occupational hazard across all countries that needs our urgent attention.

It is a simple fact that prison officers deal with some of society’s most dangerous, violent and unpredictable people on a daily basis and work in an extremely challenging environment… hence I suggest they have all the rights in the world to demand appropriate protection and the undivided attention and support from those charged with ensuring their welfare and personal safety.

I have asked myself this question many many times, is it not a really crazy fact that a police officer who deals with dangerous criminal individuals for only a very few minutes every day is by law required to wear protective equipment… but most prison/correctional officers charged with supervising the very same individuals, potentially for a number of years, are not being issued with any type of protective clothing at all?

Many of you might say that prisons should be humane environments and prisoners should be treated fairly, and I am reasonably happy to agree with this… however, the officers need to be able to command respect and they should be appropriately equipped when dealing with individuals who haven clearly proven to be aggressive, violent and disrespectful.

I personally think we must urge everyone involved to reconsider our priorities here…. we cannot prioritise the well being of prisoners above the safety and welfare of prison/correctional officers… but following the news from a number of countries I very much feel this is exactly what is happening here as well as in many other countries around the world.

I genuinely feel that we should look after those who protect and serve much more than we have done in the past.  Yes, it is known to me that many government agencies face financial difficulties, and yes, it is not an easy task to get the balance right between issuing prison/correctional officers with blunt trauma stab vests and also ensuring the prison officers continues to look approachable and none-confrontational.

PPSS Overt Stab Resistant Vests, also offering unrivaled protection from blunt force trauma and hypodermic needles.

For a number of professional reasons I have been part of many security related discussions with prison and correctional institutions in several countries around the world and please be assured it is without any question I do 100% understand all concerns raised.

In many of these meetings the ‘non-confrontational design’ question has always been the center point of these sometimes very passionate discussions…. but I always seem to come back to the same point, explaining that design and manufacturing capabilities have evolved so much over the past years. Concealable, thin and lightweight blunt trauma stab vests, extremely well suited for prison officers, are now available.

However, I can also confirm that overtly worn stab resistant vests have now been supplied to a number of facilities incl ‘Supermax’ prisons in the United States… and overtly worn body armour seems to be the way forward.

Based on our professional frontline experience and extensive research we can clearly confirm that an assault resulting in blunt forced trauma injuries is a more likely event within prison or correctional facilities, than an attack involving edged weapons or hypodermic needles. This also means issuing bullet proof vests would be rather silly and overkill.

Please view the following video of PPSS Blunt Trauma Stab Vests:

Blunt trauma, blunt injury, non-penetrating trauma or blunt force trauma all refers to a type of physical trauma caused to a body part, either by impact, injury or physical attack via a kick, punch or blow using a blunt object.  This is exactly the type of assaults our prison officer face around the world, and I strongly believe the prevention of such injuries has to be paramount.

It is without question, this type of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) will reduce the risk of workplace violence related injuries… and should this fact not be at least be worth an open minded discussion?

Many of us will also remember Jason Palmer, the United States-born ex-Marine, who was the first prison officer in New Zealand to die on active duty in 2010. His death raised serious concerns about the personal safety of prison officers in New Zealand and other countries, and prompted calls from several Corrections Associations for stab vests and/or similar type of body armour. Many of these discussions are still ongoing and have not yet resulted in the issue of such equipment.

Please also view: “List of Canadian correctional workers who have died in the line of duty”

Please comment on this blog if you wish to ask questions.  I also would love to hear from you if you are prison officer or if you are representing a prison officers union or association, regardless if you are supporting or opposing body armour within your facility or line of work.

Please free to download our 2013 body armour catalogue:

If you want to speak with me or my team about blunt force trauma or stab resistant vests and how they potentially can help you within your line of work… please call +44 (0) 845 5193 953 or email info@ppss-group.com or visit www.ppss-group.com

For all U.S. and Canada based inquiries please be so kind and visit the website of our North American division www.ppss-northamerica.com email info@ppss-northamerica.com or call 800-928-4802

Take good care.

Robert

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Body Armour Can Help Protect Frontline Housing Officers

Posted on 08/04/2013 by Robert Kaiser

Frontline Housing Officers charged with solving bitter neighbourhood disputes and delivering 'bad news' are at risk of being assaulted!

Frontline housing officers have always been at potential risk of verbal abuse and physical violence from members of the public, but I genuinely believe that body armour can effectively help reduce the risk of such officer being harmed.

Frontline housing officers carry out a range of highly sensitive work, such as collecting rent arrears and dealing with anti-social behaviour and sometimes very ‘intense’ neighbour disputes. They often have to deliver unwelcome messages, perhaps turning down a housing application, or a request for a repair which is the resident’s responsibility.

I also can foresee major issues due to the new Universal Credit… which will be paid to tenants four weeks in arrears, meaning they have to get used to budgeting saving, as well as making sure they have sufficient rent money.  Otherwise I guess someone from the Housing Association would have to deal with this matter?

The question we need to ask ourselves is what can and should be done to create the highest possible chance of these housing officers coming home at the end of the shift… unharmed?

In a survey of 200 social landlords carried out by the Chartered Institute of Housing’s journal Inside Housing, a shocking total of 8,898 assaults on front-line housing staff were reported between January 2009 and April 2012. Please take a moment and read all about this very interesting survey and story: “All in a day’s work”

In case you are just as busy as I am, here is a very small ‘chunk’ of this great article:

“The research also reveals the number of assaults that occurred between January 2009 and the end of March this year. There were 8,898 verbal and physical assaults reported by housing staff of the 223 organisations that responded to our requests – roughly eight a day across the UK.

Around 1,350 of those assaults against housing staff were physical attacks – more than one a day – with the remainder involving verbal abuse. Perhaps most worryingly, the number recorded has been rising year-on-year. In 2011, landlords reported 2,480 verbal assaults, which was a 13 per cent increase on the number logged in 2010. There was an even larger jump in the number of physical attacks recorded: 483 physical assaults were reported in 2011 – a 35 per cent rise on the previous year.”

Additional Survey Results:

  • 64% of survey respondents who do not report all assaults say incidents are ‘just part of the job’
  • 84% of survey respondents have been verbally assaulted
  • 38% of survey respondents who have been assaulted did not report all incidents to their employer
  • 51% of survey respondents believe their employer is not always doing enough to protect them from assault
  • 8% of survey respondents have had a weapon used against them
  • 1% of survey respondents have been sexually assaulted

Please do not think this is not a UK ‘exclusive’ problem. The following are just two news snips highlighting identical problems in other countries:

There are a number of reasons a widely reported increase of assaults on frontline housing staff. Firstly, there is increased pressure on residents as a result of the global financial crisis and the difficult financial situation many are in. This causes stress, which, some people express via verbally and physically aggressive action towards anyone who they perceive as being unhelpful or ‘not understanding enough’.

PPSS Body Armour have become a real necessity within Housing Associations and are worn by frontline housing staff in several countries.

Housing Managers, led by the Health & Safety Managers, will conduct internal surveys, revaluate risk assessments, potentially make lone worker security devices available and stress the importance of really good training in conflict management and conflict resolution.

I personally feel very strongly that all of the above is truly essential, especially efficient and effective training delivered by someone who REALLY knows what he/she is going on about is just crucial.

However, we also need to understand that a lack of adequate safety measures can put an individual at unnecessary risk, and cause unacceptable injury or harm. Body armour have therefore regrettably become a real necessity within Housing Associations and are worn by frontline housing staff in several countries.

Body Armour that offer the highest level of protection from edged weapon, hypodermic needles and blunt force trauma make sense… FULL STOP!

Yes, I do agree… the risk of being shot or stabbed is not as high as some news writers might want to make us believe.  However, the risk of someone ‘overreacting’ to you or your colleagues because YOU are just in the process of disconnecting the water, gas or electricity supply, the risk of someone taking aggressive physical action against you because YOU are trying to collect money/rent that person is not able or willing to hand over, or the risk of some ‘overreacting’ and willing to harm you simply because you are not willing or unable to solve their long lasting dispute with their much hated neighbour is a very REAL risk!

When such situation arises and when such person is calling you all the ‘A’, ‘B’ or ‘C’ words in the world and is throwing the first punch… a body armour can make a real difference.

A body armour will allow you to focus entirely on two objectives… your escape or your defence of your head… because it will be your body armour that will take care of your vital organs, your heart, your lungs and your kidney… and everything else hidden within your rib cage.

If you want to speak with my team about body armour… please call +44 (0) 845 5193 953 or email info@ppss-group.com or visit www.ppss-group.com

For all U.S. and Canada based inquiries please be so kind and visit the website of our North American division www.ppss-northamerica.com email info@ppss-northamerica.com or call 800-928-4802

Take good care.

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Take part in our survey and win of one of our future high performance 'Dual Protection' Body Armour

I am very proud to announce that PPSS Group will now commence its R&D stage for our new high performance ‘Dual Protection’ Body Armour, which will offer both, NIJ Level IIIA ballistic protection as well as NIJ Level I stab protection.

If you are a homeland security professional, a emergency medical professional or someone whose operational responsibilities include dealing with potentially hostile members of the public then we would like to hear from you.

We want you to help us better understand what our potential customers really want and need… what is THEIR priority when considering body armour?

Please be so kind and complete our very brief ‘questionnaire’ until the 31st May 2013: http://www.ppss-group.com/survey.html 

On the official date of launch (September/October 2013) two professionals will receive a FREE high performance PPSS ‘Dual Protection’ Body Armour.  All you have to do is complete the survey and enter your name, email address and country!

If you are one of the winners… my team will contact you and ask for your exact measurements and personal details.

If you want to speak with my team about body armour… please call +44 (0) 845 5193 953 or email info@ppss-group.com or visit www.ppss-group.com

For all U.S. and Canada based inquiries please be so kind and visit the website of our North American division www.ppss-northamerica.com email info@ppss-northamerica.com or call 800-928-4802

Good luck and stay safe!

Posted on 01/04/2013 by Robert Kaiser | Leave a comment

Slash Resistant Clothing to Help Protect Cab & Taxi Drivers

Posted on 21/03/2013 by Robert Kaiser

Taxi Driver's throat slashed by knife attacker

Following a number of violent knife attacks on cab & taxi drivers, PPSS Group have now launched cut and slash resistant clothing to help protect them.

I genuinely believe that our high performance slash resistant clothing will help protect cab & taxi drivers, who often work alone at night, dealing with potentially hostile, intoxicated and ‘out of control’ members of the public.

The safety of these professionals has to be paramount, as their job takes them to so many places that can be remote, very dangerous and often without any mobile/cell phone reception. The great variety of people they have in their vehicles represent another obvious, realistic and serious threat to the driver.

Racial harassment and aggressive complains about the fare and serious drunken disorder are now also issues taxi drivers have to face, often on a daily basis… especially at the end of weekend nights when customers have been drinking excessively all night.

Just a few days ago Jay Waiton, a 60 year old cab driver from Salina (Kansas, USA) was brutally attacked, leaving him with injuries on his head, neck and arms. He commented by saying:  “I woke up and thank the Lord that I was still alive… I guess maybe he thought he killed me and that’s when he stopped. I passed out and I thought I was dead”.

These are the words of a cab driver in a civilized country!

Just read the following international news snips for yourself:

Although excellent personal safety advice for taxi drivers is available on the internet, it is however often not enough to protect these frontline professionals.

PPSS Slash Resistant Turtle Neck Jacket

Several cab, taxi and private hire firms have now invested in a number of tools, in order to help improve the personal safety of their employees.  Especially CCTV systems have become a valuable device to combat aggressive incidents, sending a clear signal to the passenger they will be filmed, they will be prosecuted and the video footage will be used as physical evidence in a court of law.

Such ‘preventative technology’ will not do the trick every time, as some aggressive members of the public either don’t care about the potential repercussion following an assault or they are simply so intoxicated they just don’t get it any more.

This is why we need an additional ‘safety net’.  Something that protects us if all the CCTV systems in the world and all the best communication skills and our great personality have failed to stop such attack.

PPSS Slash Resistant Sleeves - Arm Guards

Smart looking and comfortable cut and slash resistant sweat shirts and sleeves can act as such ‘safety net’ and are ideal for taxi drivers and private hire as they 100% concealable.

We need to understand, that a knife attack, which sees the radial artery, the carotid artery or the axillary artery being cut or slashed will under normal circumstances lead to a rapid blood loss and can subsequently cause death within a very few minutes.

Forearm injuries similar to the one on this image are not as rare as many of us wish to believe!

I can only encourage taxi drivers to contact us in case they wish to discuss the subject of personal protective clothing or highlighted any acts of violence they have been part of during their career.  We would love to hear from you, as it may well help us to develop additional  garments or equipment with your safety and protection in mind.

If you want to speak with my team about slash resistant clothing… please call +44 (0) 845 5193 953 or email info@ppss-group.com or visit www.ppss-group.com

For all U.S. and Canada based inquiries please be so kind and visit the website of our North American division www.ppss-northamerica.com email info@ppss-northamerica.com or call 800-928-4802

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For intellectual property/copyright reasons, Cut-Tex PRO labelled products cannot be sold and delivered to Germany!

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Bite Resistant Arm Guards Can Protect You From Human Bites

Posted on 04/03/2013 by Robert Kaiser

There is no question in my mind… bite resistant arm guards can very effectively help protect special educational needs teachers (SpecEd, SpEd or SPED) as well as mental health care professionals and other specialists within high secure hospitals.

PPSS Bite Resistant Arm Guards 'Version 1' (offering extraordinary protection from the penetration of human bites) - Also available as 'Version 1 with added protection' (almost eliminating any level of bruising)

Everyone working within these fields will know that human bites are relatively frequent in their work environment and that it is an occupational risk they face on a daily basis.

  • According to The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology, bite injuries represent 1% of all emergency department admissions in the United States!
  • According to an article by Helen Acree Conlon, MS, MPH, ARNP, titled ‘Human Bites in the Classroom:  Incidence, Treatment and Complications’ it has been estimated that at least one half of the population will experience some type of bite in their lifetime. Human bites are the third leading cause of all bites seen in hospital emergency departments after dog and cat bites. Human bites can be the source of exposure to body fluids, transmission of communicable diseases, infections ranging from cellulitis to osteomyelitis, and joint deformity from septic arthritis.
  • According to data released by the UK’s NHS Security Management Service, mental health care professionals are far more likely to be attacked than other health care workers with a total of 38,958 assaults in 2008-09, accounting for 71% of attacks on health care staff during that period. However, the percentage of which involved human bites is unknown.

Human bite injuries can subsequently be contaminated with pathogens. Transmissions of potentially life threatening viruses, such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or HIV

Mark Perry, appeared close to tears when attending the NASUWT (largest teachers union in the UK) conference in 2009 and telling fellow delegates of his experiences with disturbed ten-year-olds in Wrexham, North Wales. He described that on one occasion he was bitten so hard that blood was drawn.

Another delegate, Suzanne Nantcurvis, a geography teacher from Llangollen, North Wales, said she knew members who had been forced to pay for immunisations and protective equipment. ’Biting is quite a big issue in special schools and when risk assessments are completed it is usual to put in the control measure of a protective arm guard,’ she said. (taken from UK newspaper ‘Daily Mail’, printed 16th April 2009)

Debbie Townsend, Physical Intervention Training Manager of the Oxfordshire Learning Disability NHS Trust (UK) says: “Human bites can cause both physical injury, risk of infection, soft tissue damage and psychological distress to staff. Whilst our staff teams are usually aware of the potential for bites from records of previous incidents and preventative steps are taken, additional measure to protect staff from a bite may be beneficial.”

I suggest we can say that bite resistant arm guards are clearly ‘beneficial’.

What can be the effects of a human bite, and how can bite resistant arm guards help?

We are all too aware that bite related injuries can become infected and mental health care professionals, special educational needs teachers and others could subsequently be contaminated with pathogens. Transmissions of potentially life threatening viruses, such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or HIV are also a part of reality, hence I believe that bite resistant arm guards (recently developed by PPSS Group) can help protect the above highlighted professionals.

PPSS Bite Resistant Arm Guards 'Version 2' (usually worn underneath a blouse, shirt or jumper and offering a lower level of protection than overtly worn Version 1 arm guards)

Looking at the potential and realistic consequences, especially following a human bite, we must look at all possible options in order to help protect mental health care professionals, teachers within special needs schools and others working within challenging sectors e.g. autism and severe learning disabilities, from such consequences. These consequences in the very worst case scenario can include death, in case a serious and incurable disease has been transmitted.  

For these reasons, bite resistant arm guards have lately been issued to a number of professionals in countries around the world, successfully reducing the risk of workplace violence related injuries.

Please also allow me to point out that it is a very normal, natural and instinctive response when faced by a hostile to want to lift our arms and hands in order to defend ourselves and protect our head and facial area.  However, we must acknowledge that this subsequently exposes our forearm and hands to a higher risk of danger of arm injuries.

PPSS Bite Resistant Full Arm Sleeves

PPSS Bite Resistant Full Arm Sleeves (protecting the entire arms up to the shoulders)

In fact the majority of injuries found on police or security guards can be found on their forearms or open hands.  These are classed as ‘defensive injuries’, indicating a person was defending himself rather than attacking the other person.

For me there is no question about it… cut and bite resistant arm guards will significantly decrease the risk of injuries and subsequently reduce the risk of infections and cross contamination.

UK based PPSS Group have now also launched an additional model of their ‘Version 1′ Arm Guards, offering additional (padded) protection from blunt forced trauma, protecting the wearer from the risk of infection following a human bites as well as effectively reducing the severity of potentially extremely painful bruising.

However, based on the many conversations I had over the past few years I can certainly confirm the main worry within most sectors seems to be the risk of infection.

Pleas take a moment and view our specialised online-shop, dedicated to PPSS Bite Resistant Arm Guards:  www.biteresistantarmguards.com 

If you want to speak with me or my team about bite resistant clothing and how it potentially can help you within your line of work… please email info@ppss-group.com 

Take good care of yourself.

—

For intellectual property/copyright reasons, Cut-Tex PRO labelled products cannot be sold and delivered to Germany!

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LONE WORKER SAFETY 2013 Conference & Exhibition

Posted on 12/02/2013 by Robert Kaiser

LONE WORKER SAFETY 2013 Conference & Exhibition

We are now in the process of preparing our LONE WORKER SAFETY 2013 Conference & Exhibition to provide like minded professionals involved in lone worker safety with specific and up-to-date information, which will go far beyond theory alone.

This year’s LONE WORKER SAFETY 2013 Conference & Exhibition will take place on Tue 26th November 2013 at London’s brilliant Olympia Conference Center.

It will be once again all be structured around lone worker safety and focus on health & safety professionals, lone workers themselves, managers, team leaders and senior members of staff who work within organisations where lone working takes place.

Why attending our LONE WORKER SAFETY 2013 event?

Because we have invited some of the UK’s most respected experts and speakers, planing to deliver talks which, without question, will help you to develop your understanding on how to help your workforce to stay safe.

  • Benefit from the in depth knowledge of some of the countries lone worker and personal safety experts.
  • Gain enhanced awareness of lone worker protection risks.
  • Learn how to balance meeting your duty of care with providing an effective service to the public.
  • Understand how technology e.g. lone worker protection devices, lone worker tracking or personal alarms can help to improve lone worker safety.
  • Gain a better knowledge of nature, causes and good responses to aggressive behaviour or conflict.
  • Learn about the effectiveness of good lone worker alarms systems.
  • Let us help you to develop the most effective lone worker policy for your organisation.
Cost
  • Public & Private Sector: £199.00 + VAT (incl refreshments, lunch and conference pack)
  • Charitable Organisations: £149.00 + VAT (incl refreshments, lunch and conference pack)

If lone worker protection is something you are passionate or wish to learn more about… then this is the event to attend.

Any questions? Please call us on 0845 5193 953 or email info@loneworkersafetyexpo.com

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EMS and Paramedics In Urgent Need For Stab Resistant Vests

Posted on 03/02/2013 by Robert Kaiser

For one minute only… let us not talk about money, but our hopefully genuine care for the personal safety of those who serve and care – and let us see if stab resistant vests can help protect our paramedics and emergency medical services.

Paramedics helping a young man who lays unconscious outside a club after a night of excessive drinking. Do you believe these great professionals are vulnerable?

It is very difficult for me to provide you with proper up-to-date statistics of extensive research projects on the exact operational risks and threats faced by paramedics from around the world, but the below news samples should give us a very good idea of how relevant this issue has become in recent months in countries around the world:

The very latest news I could get hold of are from the UK, dated 4th February 2013, titled “Cumbria Ambulance Crews attacked as they attend emergency calls”.

What do YOU personally think… having maybe read some of these news snippets, should stab resistant vests be made available to paramedics?

The answer to this question should of course be partly based on the result of carefully carried out risk assessments, and based on the type of risk assessments I used to carry out to conduct Personal Security Details (PSD) I would suggest we look at it from a very simple 5×5 risk assessment point of view, scoring:

  1.   1-5 possible points for the ‘probability’ of a potential physical assault, and
  2.   1-5 possible points for the ‘worst potential outcome’ of such as assault.

I know… that’s a very quick, but nevertheless reasonably effective way of establishing risks within a fairly short time frame.  For the purpose of this hopefully thought provoking exercise I would suggest that the ‘probability’ that an attack against a paramedic might happen could be around the 3 point mark (of course subject to country, city, exact area and time of day).

I think it is also fair to suggest that the ‘worst possible outcome’ could include serious injury or even death of a paramedic… so let’s be fair and give this one a point mark of 4-5.

Multiplying both figures (3 x 4.5)… the result would be a score of 12.5 out of possible 25 points (5 x 5 maximum possible score). Please feel free to disagree and or even question my quick and of course basic risk assessment.  HOWEVER… The question you really should ask yourself is… in YOUR opinion… how far am I out?  Am I TOTALLY wrong or am I very close?  Is it worth re-looking into Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Emergency Medical Professionals? Or are you suggesting NO WAY… NEVER!

PPSS Overt Stab Resistant Vests offering unrivaled protection from blunt force trauma and hypodermic needles.

Jonathan Fox, ex Press Officer of the UK’s Association of Professional Ambulance Personnel (APAP) made it clear during his talk on PPE at this year’s LONE WORKER SAFETY Conference in London: “The absence of stab resistant vests continues to undermine the efficiency of other measures which are already in place.  The APAP has been campaigning for the issue of stab resistant vests for more than a decade.  It is time that it finally happened and we put the safety of our personnel first”.

Based on dozens of constructive and personal comments I have received in Emergency Services related LinkedIn and other network discussions, as well as some almost emotional emails addressed to me personally, I can clearly state that the clear majority of you seem to be in strong support of the idea/proposal of making stab resistant vests available to paramedics… not making them COMPULSORY… but making them available to those who clearly want or even need them.

The fact of the matter is that paramedics contact us almost every single day highlighting the fact that they cannot have any stab resistant vests and in many cases are not even ALLOWED to wear them.  I am of course more than happy to discuss this in person with anyone who shares my passion for this issue.

However, despite written evidence accepted by the UK’s Home Affairs Select Committee from the Association of Professional Ambulance Personnel (APAP) in the UK in September 2011 relating to the infamous London riots (August 2011), highlighting the inconsistencies in body armour provision for ambulance crews caught up in the disturbances  across the country… progress is STILL very slow.

Based on an  international survey PPSS Group has carried out over the past twenty four months, we can confirm:

  • 76% of those completing our survey stated “stab resistant vests, which also offer blunt trauma protection, should be issued to ALL Paramedics”.
  • 88% also confirmed that “paramedics should be issued with their OWN INDIVIDUAL body armour”.
  • 50% mentioned they were not aware of the latest available advances in concealable stab resistant vests, e.g. thickness, weight, concealability and wearability.
  • 62% of all respondents stated, the wearing of stab resistant vests should NOT be made compulsory.  I agree with this… however we must NOT refuse issuing those with stab resistant vests who demand such protection.

Our survey will continue… so please have YOUR say:  Survey Link

The fact of the matter is (as sad as it might be)… widely available statistics will tell us that it is unfortunately only a matter of time until another paramedic or emergency medical professional will be attacked, beaten, punched, kicked or stabbed (as much as we all will hate this fact).  The statistics can of course not give us the name of the next person who will become part of this statistic… so our responsibility must be to ensure it is a) not our name, and b) not the name of our colleagues and employees. However, there is no question about it… it will happen. What will we/you have done in order to reduce that risk?

Bill Geraghty, Vice President of our North American operation, has just last week sent me a link to the Canadian Journal of Emergency Medicine’s recent survey, which concluded that most paramedics are victims of violence in the workplace.

The results are that two-thirds of paramedics reported being victims of at least one form of violence while at work during the past 12 months. Verbal abuse was reported by 67. 4%, perpetrated by patients (62. 9%), patient family or friends (36. 4%), colleagues (20. 8%), and bystanders (5. 8%). Intimidation was reported by 41. 5%, perpetrated by patients (37. 8%), patient family or friends (27. 0%), colleagues (45. 3%), and bystanders (3. 4%). Physical abuse was reported by 26. 1%, perpetrated by patients (92. 3%), patient family or friends (11. 1%), colleagues (3. 8%), and bystanders (2. 3%). Sexual harassment was reported by 13. 6%, perpetrated by patients (64. 7%), patient family or friends (18. 4%), colleagues (41. 2%), and bystanders (8. 8%). Sexual assault was reported by 2. 7%, perpetrated by patients (88. 9%), patient family or friends (7. 4%), colleagues (14. 8%), and bystanders (2. 7%).

We all, and certainly all senior health & safety managers within these organisations are clearly and genuinely shocked and furious.  We might well state that any form of attack on emergency services personnel is totally unacceptable, whether it be physical or verbal!

These acts of aggression are carried out by angry, very upset, hostile and often intoxicated members of the general public, who have decided to express their ‘feelings’ in a violent manner.   These people are so extremely aggressive because they are either very unhappy with you getting to their location so late in their opinion, or with the lack of quality service (in their opinion) you are providing, they make you responsible for the suffering of the person you are trying to take care of, or they are desperate to get hold of the drugs they believe you have in store.  I am sure you can think of many more reasons.

So… what action should be taken to protect these frontline professionals, who are out there to help and save lives?

Well, we must understand that we cannot buy safety… but we pay for it dearly, if we don’t have it. We can also not completely eliminate risk… but we can reduce it to an acceptable level.  As long as systems are human-made, we will always have risk!

Stew Schmidt, MA, Paramedic and General Manager of Canadian Muskwachees Ambulance Authority explained to me: “Safety is not expensive, it is priceless and we looked to this level of protection to promote preparedness primarily against blunt trauma. The key is for me to provide my team with the right tools to do the right thing at the right time. Our goal is that the EM Crews are never put into an unsafe scene, albeit if the situation changes (while our team is on scene or transporting) then at least the crew has an added level of protection.”

Others might say there is no money to protect those who serve, almost suggesting there is a price we can put on someone’s life. Others might argue that stab resistant vests look too aggressive, authoritative or confrontational. Well, in many of my previous blogs I have made it very clear that the ‘design argument’ is often used as an excuse for not issuing PPE, but should be put to the attention of the body armour manufacturer anyway.  My company PPSS Group has taken this valid argument on board and subsequently designed, developed and manufactured stab resistant vests offering UK Home Office certified stab protection, needle protection and unmatched protection from blunt trauma injuries… usually caused by a punch, kick or blow of any type of blunt object. However, they do of course NOT look like the type of tactical body armour as used in Iraq, Afghanistan or other regions of conflict.

Please view the following video of PPSS Blunt Trauma Stab Vests:

Well, you can see, ultra light and thin user friendly stab resistant vests are now available, and please let me assure you, according to a number of paramedics… CPR can be performed whilst wearing the vest…  so what stops us?

I am of course aware of the argument or concern some might wish to bring forward in regards to the perception of body armour, saying or believing that such equipment could be perceived as ‘confrontational’ or ‘aggressive.

PPSS Hi Viz Stab Resistant Vests, offering unrivaled protection from blunt force trauma and hypodermic needles

Stab vests can now be designed as high visibility overtly worn body armour… that look much more like a high visibility vest rather than ‘law enforcement type’ body armour. High visibility clothing has become a part of our society and culture in many countries… anyone changing his wheel on his car on a main road wearing a high visibility vest does not look ‘threatening’ or ‘aggressive’.   High visibility clothing can well be seen as a ‘point of contact’ in an emergency or crisis situation.  The responsibility of making a body armour LOOK less ‘aggressive’ and making them become more ‘wearable’ has to be the responsibility of us, the body armour manufacturer… and we are taking this responsibility very serious.  But there is no doubt about it… body armour are now much lighter, thinner, more wearable and I 100% believe they look much much less confrontational than those worn by ‘enforcement agencies’.

I genuinely think stab resistant vests are a realistic option to effectively protect ambulance staff and paramedics without making them appear as obvious and challenging targets, but the senior management of these organisations must sit down and SEARCH for the options. The argument of no money being available or body armour look too aggressive, doesn’t help protect these frontline professionals.  It does not increase their chance of coming home safely!

Maybe it is all about education.  If we as security and safety experts make up-to-date information on stab resistant vests available to these decision makers, and if we explain to those responsible for the safety of paramedics that design and manufacturing capabilities within the world of body armour have evolved… then maybe these guys will one day get this type of protective equipment, which many demand and certainly all deserve.

I strongly suggest let us speak to these professionals and explain to them what can and should be done to improve their personal safety… it has to be worth the time and effort!

In case you have any question please contact my team or me and email info@ppss-group.com, call +44 (0) 845 5193 953 or visit www.ppss-group.com

However, in case you are based in either the U.S. or Canada, please be so kind and contact our North American division by emailing info@ppss-northamerica.com or visit www.ppss-northamerica.com

Take good care of yourself!

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