3M celebrates 40 years of leadership in workplace protection

3M’s Occupational Health and Environmental Safety Division continues to shine within an intensely competitive marketplace through its innovative product portfolio, high levels of service and commitment and a reputation built on trust. In recognition of the milestone anniversary, 3M Occupational Health and Environmental Safety has launched a new campaign:

‘40 Years of Safety Leadership’.

3M’s Occupational Health and Environmental Safety division, whose modest beginnings date back to 1971, has grown exponentially, producing thousands of innovative products in a diverse range of fields. The Company tied up with the US Department of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the US Centres for Disease Control’s National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in 1971 to fill a void in the market by introducing the first NIOSH-approved filtering face piece respirator and launching the disposable earplug in 1972. The Occupational Health and Environmental Safety Division has since then propelled to new heights through advancements and aggressive product development, contributing towards making the Company what it is today.

“Our mandate is to help improve the work environment by creating a safety culture through awareness programmes and seminars, training, and research” explains Dr. Mrs. Amarasinghe, Director – National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety – Sri Lanka. “NIOSH and 3M share a common goal towards improving workplace protection, and our long-standing collaboration with 3M has allowed us to leverage the Company’s global expertise to provide the best protective equipment and services to the working population.”

“This global campaign gives us the opportunity to remind our customers of the numerous advances 3M has made in providing personal protective equipment to the relevant industries during the past 40 years, and our contribution towards the local industries as well,” explains 3M Sri Lanka Vice President Suren Rajanathan.

3M Sri Lanka currently provides a range of solutions to the local market, including respiratory protection, head protection, eye protection, hearing protection, body suits, chemical sorbants and environmental monitoring systems (noise detectors/ organic vapour monitors), and will soon introduce a total range of safety solutions available through the 3M global product portfolio, adding value to the local industries. “Our goal towards creating a safety culture in Sri Lanka is to collaborate with industries during the coming months by conducting safety awareness campaigns and training to support customers to identify hazards and occupational risks involved in the workplace.” further elaborates Rajanathan. “This involves enhancing employee knowledge in personal protection within the workforce, in our quest to improve occupational health and environmental safety within the relevant industries in the country.”