AW Hainsworth - Experts & Thought Leaders

Testing has found that a revolutionary PPE fabric, developed for wildland firefighting by Hainsworth Protective Fabrics and woven using Merino Wool, provides 17% more breathability than alternative blends. The brand’s ECO-DRY fabric was Thermal Evaporative Resistance (RET) tested by an accredited independent test house against a prototype wildland fabric made from a 100% meta-aramid blend. RET testing is a type of fabric testing that quantifies moisture vapor transfer and breathability. Better moisture management Further testing was carried out at James Heal in Halifax-using their state-of-the-art WickView equipment In RET testing, a lower value demonstrates increased moisture vapor transfer, which in this case means greater breathability. When testing was complete, ECO-DRY was found to be 17% more breathable than the prototype fabric, proving that it offers better moisture management properties than fabric made from a 100% meta-aramid blend. Further testing was carried out at James Heal in Halifax-using their state-of-the-art WickView equipment. This machine tracks and records the real-time liquid transfer through the fabric, replicating how it performs when worn. This testing found that ECO-DRY demonstrates excellent wicking properties for a flame-retardant fabric, while the comparison fabric didn’t allow any liquid to pass through. WickView testing The meta-aramid version demonstrated no wicking properties in WickView testing and had lower breathability than the standard merino wool version, resulting in overall poorer moisture management.  Reduced breathability and wickability can make the wearer feel uncomfortable and put them at risk of heat exhaustion. However, with the inclusion of Merino Wool in the ECO-DRY fabric, sweat is drawn away from the firefighter’s skin and through the fabric, which helps them maintain a manageable body temperature. Frequent and severe wildfires Clothing with effective wicking effects helps to fade heat more fast and stops the wearer from overheating With wildland firefighting becoming increasingly challenging due to more frequent and severe wildfires, the need for protective clothing that can withstand extreme conditions while ensuring the wearer's comfort has never been more critical.  Clothing with effective wicking properties helps to evaporate heat more quickly and stops the wearer from overheating. This breakthrough will reduce the chance of heat stress and improve firefighters' performance in the most demanding environments, improving safety and comfort.  Integration of Merino Wool Martin Haworth, Hainsworth Protective Fabrics Technical Manager, explains, “ECO-DRY fabric combines the natural properties of Merino Wool with advanced flame-retardant fibers, creating a material that meets and exceeds the rigorous demands of wildland firefighting." "The integration of Merino Wool offers superior moisture management and breathability, crucial for maintaining core body temperature during intense physical activity. In addition, the fabric's ability to wick moisture away from the skin ensures that firefighters remain dry and comfortable, reducing the likelihood of heat exhaustion.” Fiber Positioning Technology Hainsworth Protective Fabrics develops and weaves cutting-edge PPE fabrics that deliver unrivaled protection, comfort and quality and surpass international standards. Using a unique process called Fiber Positioning Technology, Hainsworth PPE fabric is trusted by thousands of emergency service professionals across the globe, including firefighters, police and emergency personnel. Each fabric crafted by Hainsworth Protective Fabrics, a subsidiary of AW Hainsworth, established in 1783, is developed at a family-run heritage textile mill in West Yorkshire and tested at the company’s state-of-the-art laboratory and independently.

The National Collaborative PPE Framework is celebrating five years of success in delivering high-quality PPE to Fire and Rescue Services (FRSs) across the UK. Launched in June 2017 to streamline the PPE procurement process, the scheme has since delivered protective clothing to around two-thirds of FRSs across the country, equating to more than 30,000 firefighters. Created with a view to sharing best practices and delivering efficiencies, the National Framework is managed by the National Fire Chiefs Council’s National Procurement Hub’s Lead Authority for PPE and Clothing Category at Kent Fire and Rescue Service, with PPE supplied by MSA Bristol - a pioneer in the design and manufacture of PPE for firefighters. High-Performance fabrics The PPE range includes a Full Structural Ensemble, a Layered Jacket, Rescue Jacket, and USAR Ensemble, with selected styles combining innovative and ergonomic designs with the use of high-performance fabrics and fibers from suppliers such as WL Gore, PBI Performance Products, and Hainsworth.   By taking part in the scheme, FRSs have access to high-quality PPE with the reassurance that it has been independently evaluated and tested. Whilst purchase-only contracts are available, the majority have opted for managed services contracts, whereby kit is regularly cleaned, inspected, decontaminated, and repaired at one of MSA Bristol’s three in-house UK Service Centres. Fire and Rescue Services that have most recently signed up to the scheme include North Yorkshire FRS, Leicestershire FRS, and Oxfordshire FRS.  Comfortable PPE protection The scheme is an excellent example of successful partnership, collaboration, and service delivery" Sarah Walsh, Framework Manager, comments: “The National Collaborative PPE Framework has proved a huge success, resulting in time and cost efficiencies for Fire Services around the country, whilst providing robust and comfortable PPE protection for firefighters on the ground, as well as longer-term health protection through the regular professional servicing of these garments.” “From the outset, the Framework’s Strategic Board Team has worked closely with MSA Bristol to ensure the provision of a top-quality service from sign-up, to delivery, to ongoing after-care, ensuring continuity of service despite the disruptions and challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. The scheme is an excellent example of successful partnership, collaboration, and service delivery. Both ourselves and MSA Bristol are always looking to innovations, as well as to the sector’s requirements, to ensure that any technical refreshes are looked into further for the benefits to end users.” Simplifying procurement process “It is even more relevant now than it was in the beginning of the Framework, when more research is published on subjects like contaminants, we look at how we can incorporate the recommendations made into the Framework.” Philip Tasker, UK and Ireland Sales Director at MSA Bristol, comments: “Over the past five years, the Collaborative Framework has succeeded in significantly improving and simplifying the procurement process for UK FRSs, making it easier and more affordable for fire services to access the best quality PPE as well as essential managed services. MSA Bristol has been privileged to work alongside Kent FRS to deliver these services, and we’re looking forward to continuing this relationship in the years to come.”

AW Hainsworth is proud to announce that they have been accredited with ISO 45001:2018, which focuses on occupational health and safety in the workplace. ISO is recognized worldwide as a respected standards body, and this standard focuses on improving employee safety, reducing workplace risks and creating better, safer working conditions. This reinforces the company’s commitment to their workforce by ensuring they provide their employees a healthy and safe place of work. ISO 45001:2018 accreditation The project to achieve ISO 45001 accreditation has been in progress for two years and has been a thorough process of staff training, documentation, risk assessments, emergency preparedness, tightening the COSHH controls, PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) management and maintaining the legal register. It culminated in two assessment visits from an auditor, an intensive period of evidencing, checking and formulating plans to implement corrections. AW Hainsworth finally received the certificate in December 2021, and will be assessed every year to maintain this accreditation. Project led by Mark Liebrand and Richard Hepplestone Put simply, we are ensuring that everyone gets to go home safe to their families" Mark Liebrand, Quality Systems Technician and Richard Hepplestone, Health, Safety and Environment Manager at AW Hainsworth, have led the project, which has involved every department across the mill. Mark Liebrand, Quality Systems Technician at AW Hainsworth, said “Put simply, we are ensuring that everyone gets to go home safe to their families. But more than that, it is a cultural shift at AW Hainsworth, getting our team to buy into health and safety, and care for each other. We are seeing benefits as a result of this process and there is a greater awareness around the mill, and more conversations happening about health and safety.” Maintaining high standards Richard Hepplestone, Health, Safety and Environment Manager at AW Hainswort, said, “We think this proves our commitment to our employees, to continuous improvement and to maintaining high standards, which benefits the people and companies we work with. Richard Hepplestone adds, “Our partners want to know that we care about our workforce, this is one way we can prove that. A continued focus on protecting our workforce ultimately protects the supply chain, which makes us an efficient and reliable partner. It’s an added layer of confidence in the AW Hainsworth brand.” AW Hainsworth will add ISO 45001 2018 to other certifications, ISO 9001, ISO AS9001D, RWS and UKAS, and customers are welcome to request a copy of the audit reports.