Workwear and Safety is one of our judging team’s favorite categories every year. Many of the products that find their way to the winner’s circle have lifestyle applications even after the whistle blows to end the day on the job site. At the same time, it’s a serious category—being properly equipped is critical to getting the job done effectively and safely. Check out our winners for the 2018 Workwear and Safety Awards!
Winner – Boots
Wolverine I-90 EPX CarbonMAX Boot
What they said:
Wolverine brand has been making strong and durable footwear for over 135 years. Wolverine named the I-90 EPX CarbonMAX boot after the longest interstate in the United States, made for long hours and many miles. The TPU outsole, made of a high-abrasion thermoplastic polyurethane slip-resistant lug. It makes the outsole longer-lasting and resistant to abrasion, splitting, chemicals, and oils. Compared to leading competitors, the Wolverine I-90 outsole lasts 2x longer. Having a TPU outsole helps wearers not have to replace their boots as often.
In addition to the strong outsole, the I-90 features a premium waterproof full-grain leather upper and breathable waterproof membrane with moisture-wicking mesh lining. It also has a removable dual-density polyurethane EPX Anti-Fatigue footbed. The EPX footbed returns energy in every step so you can wear this boot all day and keep the pep in your step. CarbonMAX safety-toe uses nanotechnology to produce a strong, lightweight and comfortable boot. With these two technologies, plus the TPU outsole, this boot is made for walking.
What we say:
Wolverine’s I-90 has two of our favorite features: their EPX footbed and CarbonMax safety toe. But something else pushes it ahead of the competition for the win. Wolverine takes a turn and uses thermoplastic polyurethane—a common midsole material—for the outsole. The resulting slip, abrasion, and chemical-resistant material lasts twice as long as other outsoles. When buying a premium work boot, you expect it to last longer. Wolverine ensures that it does.
Price: $140
For more information, click here.
Winner – Gloves
Milwaukee 561-21 USB Rechargeable Heated Gloves
What they said:
Milwaukee understands that trade professionals are expected to work in some very tough conditions. Cold weather is one of the most inclement. Milwaukee introduced their M12 Heated Gear in 2010, and this is the debut of their first-ever heated accessory. The new USB Rechargeable Heated Gloves are a first for the industry, offering high-performance in trade applications and providing an improved experience when compared to the heated glove offerings used in other industries.
What we say:
Heated gear has come a long way since its introduction. Even as Milwaukee looks to make their line of jackets and hoodies better, they also turn their attention to gloves. For the first time, you can use a battery to keep your hands warm in the harshest working conditions. You won’t use an M12 battery with these – they’re part of the RedLithium USB lineup, so the battery doesn’t take up nearly as much room. You’ll get 1.5 to 6 hours of heating, and we won’t judge you if you wear them to those late-season playoff games.
Price: $179
For more information, click here.
Finalist
Winner – Jackets
Milwaukee M12 Heated AXIS Jacket (203B-21)
What they said:
Milwaukee’s newest additions to the Heated Gear line are the M12 Heated AXIS Jackets and Vests. A hybrid construction design features AXIS Ripstop Polyester. It provides a lightweight, compressible jacket perfect for use as an outer shell or a mid-layer. It also protects the wearer from wind and water. Just like the M12 Heated TOUGHSHELL Jackets and Hoodies, M12 REDLITHIUM battery technology powers these new AXIS jackets and vests.
A new Quick-Heat function lets users feel the heat 3X faster, distributing heat to the chest, back, and shoulders of the jackets and the chest and back of the vests. The jackets’ heated shoulders are particularly beneficial in extreme cold conditions or during layering to allow for additional heat dispersion. Available in Men’s and Women’s sizes, each will ship with the M12 Compact Charger and Portable Power Source for ideal on-the-go charging via micro-USB in wall outlets, vehicles, or computers.
What we say:
There’s only so much room to innovate heated jackets, but one of them is in how quickly the heating elements get the heat to you. Milwaukee’s Axis line up now gets it done three times faster. In the jackets, you get the standard chest and back elements, but Milwaukee now adds shoulder elements for even better heat distribution.
Price: $219
For more information, click here.
Winner – Ladders
Little Giant Ladder Systems HyperLite SumoStance IA Ladder
What they said:
The most catastrophic ladder accidents are caused by over-reaching, working on uneven surfaces, and stepping from the ladder to the roof and back. People have attempted to solve the leveling problem with rocks and boards and are left to improvise, or do nothing. The HyperLite SumoStance leveling outrigger system more than doubles the ladder’s base width and increases side-tip stability. The SumoStance ladder’s intuitive safety features help ensure a safe and stable set-up for any job. It’s also lighter than any other manufacturer’s lightest ordinary extension ladders.
The HyperLite SumoStance offers a side-to-side bubble level and front-to-back angle indicator, making it possible to set up the ladder safely. It also features Little Giant’s unique side-mounted, dual-pulley system. This reduces the effort required to lift the fly section by 45% and removes the potential trip hazard caused by traditional center-pulley rope systems.
Its wide rungs let you work comfortably without foot fatigue. The patent-pending Sure-Set foot allows you to set the feet in either flat or spike positions and have them stay in place. Little Giant’s exclusive nonconductive hi-viz green rail has also been scientifically proven to be the most visible hue of the color spectrum to the human eye.
What we say:
Little Giant is passionate about ladder safety and it shows with their HyperLite SumoStance extension ladder. First of all, it’s lightweight compared to other ladders of the same length. The outriggers give it a more stable base to work from, and a leveling system keeps the ladder level on sloping ground. Add in levels to make OSHA ladder angle regulations easy to comply with and you have one of the easiest ladders in the industry to work with.
Price: $595.99/$819.99
For more information, click here.
Winner – Area Lights
Milwaukee M18 RADIUS Site Light/Charger w/ONE-KEY 2150-20
What they said:
By utilizing advanced LEDs, optics, and lithium-ion technologies, Milwaukee developed a solution for professionals on job sites that have historically required higher output lighting. Traditionally, this category of lighting has been dominated by products not designed for longevity on the job site. On a single charge, the new M18 RADIUS Site Light/Charger with ONE-KEY can light the site for up to 14 hours. In addition, it’s designed with a high-impact polycarbonate lens and ingress protected for long life in job site environments. With this huge advance in output, capacity, and durability, professionals can shift their view of job site lighting from a simple commodity to a long-lasting investment.
What we say:
Milwaukee packs 9,000 lumens into their M18 Radius Site Light. That’s an impressive level of output, but it’s far from the end of the story. Plugged into the wall, the 2150-20 will also charge any M18 battery you install, and you can daisy-chain multiple lights together for larger areas. You also get One-Key to work with, so you can control the light from your smartphone, allowing you to activate the lights remotely as-needed.
Price: $599
For more information, click here.
Finalist
Winner – Commercial Site Lights
Lind Equipment Beacon LED Tower
What they said:
The Beacon LED Tower is the first man-portable LED light tower that provides more light than traditional bulb-based light towers at half the price. A flexible and versatile unit, it can be powered from a standard household circuit or with a small 1000W generator that is kept safe in the cabinet. Weighing just 300 lbs, you can fit two of these compact tower units in the back of a standard sized pickup truck.
This is the first tower light built by a lighting company, not a generator company. The Beacon LED Tower is equipped with Lind Equipment high-efficiency large area LED light heads. They provide more median light output than traditional metal halide bulbs, but use 80% less power.
Two towers can run off a single 15A circuit. Alternatively, you can use a small generator/inverter for remote use. The four-light LE980LED-T4 uses only 800W of power. A user-supplied small generator (1000-2000W) can sit safely inside the lockable ventilated housing. Beacon LED Towers come with an outlet for daisy-chaining multiple units together.
The Beacon LED Tower comes standard with an external fuel tank (inside the cabinet), which supplements the run time of a 2000W generator to about 45 hours.
What we say:
What happens when you need a lot of light for exterior locations? Lind Equipment has broken the barrier and their Beacon LED Tower light puts out 120,000 lumens from four 200-watt LED lights. The system has a fuel tank that gives you up to 45 hours of runtime from a standard 2000-watt generator that you’ll need to supply. It’s designed to be transported and set up by a single person if necessary. When powerful lighting is what you need, you now have a legitimate LED option.
Price: $4,795
For more information, click here.
Winner – Personal Lighting
Milwaukee Tool USB Rechargeable ROVER Pivoting Flood Light
What they said:
Powered by REDLITHIUM USB, the Milwaukee USB Rechargeable ROVER Pivoting Flood Light delivers best-in-class 550 lumens of TRUEVIEW High Definition output. It supports over 2,000 recharges and you get 3X faster
charging via USB. Equipped with a 210° pivoting light head and extra wide magnetic base, the Milwaukee USB Rechargeable ROVER Pivoting Flood Light can sit, stick, or hang virtually anywhere and cast wide flood light onto any surface. With three output modes, users can maximize brightness or extend run-time with up to 10 hours of light on a single charge.
What we say:
Milwaukee expanded their personal lighting solutions and impressed our judging team with the new Rover Pivoting Flood Light. Building on the excellent design of their original RedLithium USB Flood Light, this one keeps a magnetic base so you can stick it to any steel you’re working around while giving you some extra hanging versatility. A pivoting action lets you direct the light where you need. This small LED, it packs a punch with 550 lumens on high with the perfect color identification you get from Milwaukee’s TrueView output.
Price: $59.99
For more information, click here.
Finalist
- Southwire SL50RSW 500 lumen Articulating LED Handheld Light
Winner – Portable Work Lights
Milwaukee M18 Utility Bucket Light 2122-21HD
What they said:
When performing utility line maintenance, finding appropriate temporary lighting is crucial. Up until now, linemen have had to resort to positioning a large area light or searchlight on the ground, directing it towards the bucket. They then supplement that with a light on their helmet. This provides an inadequate and inconsistent amount of light. It often results in shadows spotting from the ground due to the bucket being in the way of the light. By developing a light fully optimized for utility buckets, Milwaukee helps linemen vastly improve their visibility on the job site with high quality and consistent light with the versatility to adapt to the work they do.
What we say:
Linemen don’t have the luxury of working only in optimal conditions. When storms or fallen trees knock out the power, crews work to restore it right away. They get us back to comfort at the expense of their own. The Milwaukee LED Bucket Light gives those crews an outstanding cordless solution for bucket truck work. A spring-loaded clamp hooks securely to the edge of the bucket while the lights pivot and swivel to put the light exactly where you need it. Each light has independent controls with flood, spot, and flood/spot modes. This gives you the amount of light needed in the perfect spread for getting the job done safely.
Price: $899
For more information, click here.
Finalist
Winner – Temporary Site Lights
Milwaukee 2155-AC RADIUS LED 70w Temporary Site Light
What they said:
Commoditized products that lack durability plague the temporary job site lighting industry. They require many labor hours to maintain, and they consume significant amounts of power. By leveraging their leadership in LED technology and understanding the frustrations of use in the field, Milwaukee provided an AC-powered solution that delivers on the durability, performance, and ease of use that other similar lights have failed to achieve.
What we say:
Temporary lighting has plenty of room for improvement, and Milwaukee’s Radius LED Temporary Site Light handles several of them beautifully. These LED site lights last longer than other options and deliver a much more neutral color to work under. Made from high-impact polycarbonate, the lens reduces the number of broken lights you throw away. We really like the fact that these come pre-wired with a 120V AC cord and that Milwaukee intentionally makes the swap to hardwiring super easy.
Price: $199
For more information, click here.
Finalist
- Lind Equipment Beacon120 LED Highbay
- Husky 7500 lumen LED String Light
Winner – Tethering & Fall Protection
Milwaukee Locking Tool Lanyards and Accessories
What they said:
The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that falling objects account for 5% of all workplace fatalities in the United States. Statistics like this highlight the importance for companies with employees working at heights to implement tethering programs. This helps prevent these types of injuries in the first place. With a focus on keeping employees safe without hindering their productivity, Milwaukee Tool designed a lineup of lanyards that provide little to no interference during tool use. They’re also quick and easy to attach. Lastly, color-coded features help safety managers easily ensure compliance.
What we say:
The new Milwaukee Locking Tool Lanyards and Accessories have several noteworthy features that make tethering your tools less intrusive. It starts with color-coding: red is 10-lb, black is 15-lb, and gray handles 35-lb loading. On the security end, our judging team loves the use of self-locking D-rings. Similar to climbing carabiners, these spring-loaded locks automatically lock around the ring once the spring pushes it in place. There’s no chance of accidentally leaving it open or unlocked. Finally, the shock absorbing design means both you and the tool are better protected in case of a drop.
Price: $3.99-$29.99
For more information, click here.