By Bl Mumbai Bureau

Copyright thehindubusinessline

The personal protective equipment market is expected to register a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of six per cent in the next 8 years to hit $5 billion from the current level of $2.7 billion on the back of rising awareness at work places and regulatory framework.

The Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020, which consolidates 13 labour laws under a unified framework, marked a watershed moment in this transformation.

In May, 68 labour-related regulatory updates were issued. Parallelly, the rapid rise of e-commerce and retail has amplified the demand for PPE, with warehouse and logistics operations requiring escalated safety measures.

Industry projections estimate India’s e-commerce sector to reach $200 billion by next year, further fuelling the PPE market.

Pramod Sawant, Chief Minister of Goa and Executive Member, National Integrated Medical Association said occupational safety and health are not just legal obligations but moral responsibilities that directly impact productivity and national growth.

India has introduced key reforms such as the OSH Code 2020, Shram Suvidha Portal and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, which are driving compliance and improving worker welfare, he said at the 13th OSH India Expo with over 170 exhibitors from 13 countries participated.

Ram Dahiphale, Joint Director, Directorate of Industrial Safety & Health, Maharashtra, said in a factory environment where people, machines, and materials interact, risks are inherent.

In today’s landscape, ensuring safety is just as important as supporting business growth and the State government is focused on promoting safe working conditions through a combination of regulation and industry collaboration, he said.

Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director, Informa Markets in India, said though safety landscape is undergoing a significant transformation, bridging the safety gap in the informal sector, which still accounts for over 80 per cent of workforce, remain critical.

With the occupational safety market in India projected to grow at a CAGR of over 11 per cent by 2030, technologies such as IIoT, AI, and predictive analytics are enabling organisations to proactively monitor operations and move towards zero-incident environments, he said.

Published on September 17, 2025