PURCHASE PRICE vs COST AND ROI

Not knowing the differences among what is available usually leads to purchasing what has the cheapest purchase price. That stems from the mindset that PPE is a regulatory expense that should be minimized. But the truth is, PPE should be an investment in reducing costs with an ROI on a par with any other cost cutting measures an employer may be pursuing.

Lost time injuries cost close to $50,000 each today. Non-lost times injuries close to $5,000 and even First Aid cases about $500 each. Investing in quality PPE sufficient to reduce any of those costs even marginally will return the purchase price many times over. Downtime is another major cost. Comfortable, well fitting PPE, helps workers stay on the job longer and produce more. Again, spending a few dollars for design, comfort and fitting features will be returned many times over. An investment in quality PPE also helps to reduce Workers Comp insurance premiums and all of the costs involved with it.

Yes, every company wants to reduce costs. But with PPE it is important to recognize and understand which costs are the target. Do you want to try to save a couple of bucks on the purchase price of a protective cap for example, or do you want to invest that extra couple of bucks in a protective cap that is more likely to prevent or reduce an injury, more likely to be worn because it fits properly, more likely to help the wearer be more productive because it is more comfortable and that reduces the cost of Workers Comp insurance?