Honeywell Wins Big at OH&S Awards – Here’s the Product Makers Take on What Stood Out

Ana Ilie

October 5, 2021

To develop Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that really stands out in its ability to improve workplace safety is no easy feat. However, Honeywell’s development teams succeeded in bringing forward in 2021 outstanding product offerings that were internationally acclaimed for their design and performance at the iF Design and Red Dot product design awards.

Most recently, four of Honeywell’s most innovative products won the Occupational Health & Safety magazine’s New Product of the Year contest:

Fall Protection: Harness/SRL - Honeywell Miller H500 Harness Series

Hand Protection: Chemical-Liquid/Resistant - Honeywell Flextril Nitrile Chemical Gloves

Head Protection - Honeywell Fibre Metal Safety Helmet

Vision Protection - Honeywell Uvex Avatar RX

“The award program honors the outstanding product development achievements of health and safety manufacturers whose products are considered particularly noteworthy in their ability to improve workplace safety,” explains OH&S in a short statement on its website.

So, what makes Honeywell’s products remarkable in the world of health and safety? We asked each development team how their product improves workplace safety and what is the most outstanding innovation that the product brings:

Q#1: How is this product improving workplace safety

Marc Dudelzak, Offering Management Lead - Harnesses & Rescue:

Only very recently has there been an increased awareness of ergonomics and musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Workers spend long hours wearing a safety harness and if it isn’t comfortable it can lead to muscular fatigue due to restricted freedom of movement, overexertion, repetitive tasks, or load exposure. These issues can contribute to critical errors, leading workers to incorrectly wear their harness, which may increase the risk of MSDs and fall. The Honeywell Miller H500 series integrates ergonomics, safety, comfort, and style with cost-effectiveness, to provide a more breathable, lightweight harness.

Zhao Leon, Engineering Manager – Glove:

The Flextril Nitrile Chemical Gloves provide high chemical protection, reliable cut resistance, great wet and dry grip, enhanced dexterity, and improved comfort.

Brian Lieberman, Regional Product Marketing – Face and Head Protection:

If a worker falls, the Fibre Metal Safety Helmet has a chin strap that ensures the helmet will stay on during that fall. The new Fibre Metal Safety Helmet delivers excellent impact absorption, secondary eye protection, great visibility, and all-day comfort while keeping an eye on styling.

Wanda Sanchez Miller, Lead Customer Marketing Specialist:

With Honeywell Uvex Avatar Rx, we can now both standardize against one frame for all safety protection needs (Avatar Family of Avatar spectacles, Avatar OTG, and Avatar Rx frame) while meeting the needs of the varied facial profiles in our diverse workforce.

Q#2: What feature of the product do you think caught the jury’s attention?

Marc Dudelzak, Offering Management Lead - Harnesses & Rescue:

Honeywell is known for its outstanding and consistent design output. Our designers know how to get into the mindset of the users and turn their needs into a meaningful, desirable, and easy-to-use product. The Honeywell Miler H500 series won 2021 iF Design and Red Dot product design awards.

Zhao Leon, Engineering Manager – Glove:

Among the most prominent features of the Flextril Nitrile Chemical Gloves we are proud to mention the QR code printed on the glove, that gives direct access to a database. By simply connecting with the cellphone, the user has access to all the technical specifications needed, from chemical permeation data, coating and thickness, to technical certifications and size.

Brian Lieberman, Regional Product Marketing – Face and Head Protection:

We have designed the Fibre Metal Safety Helmet in vented and non-vented versions, with a chin strap and visor. Not to mention it has a slick styling.

Wanda Sanchez Miller, Lead Customer Marketing Specialist:

I think the fact Honeywell was able to deliver the same stylish and adjustable DNA of Avatar across 3 winning executions to ensure consistency and standardization in the workforce.

Q#3: What is the most outstanding innovation?

Marc Dudelzak, Offering Management Lead - Harnesses & Rescue:

The two main points that focus the criticisms of users are the weight of the harness and the discomfort of the padding. Our patented shoulder/back padding design minimizes overexertion and offers more breathability to keep workers drier and cooler.

Compared to the next best alternative, it is three times more breathable (less water vapor resistance – RET)*.

Zhao Leon, Engineering Manager – Glove:

I think it’s the fact that our team was able to develop the first chemical protection glove with a reliable cut resistance feature.

Brian Lieberman, Regional Product Marketing – Face and Head Protection:

What stands out is the fact that the Fibre Metal Safety Helmet has similar features to a certified climbing style helmet at nearly half the cost.

Wanda Sanchez Miller, Lead Customer Marketing Specialist:

The innovation that stood out is the execution of the stylish Avatar family DNA, helping our workers standardize around one frame for optimum protection in a stylish, lightweight product.

* As per the Satra Technology technical report

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