PPE Procurement Checklist: Petzl Corax Harness Size 1, Adjustable Lanyards, Leather Gloves, and Latex-Free Nitrile Gloves

1. List the jobs before you list the products

I took over purchasing for a 140-person company in 2020. I manage all safety equipment ordering—roughly $40,000 annually across 6 vendors—and I report to both operations and finance. The hardest lesson I learned is that you don't start a PPE order with PPE. You start with the work.

Before I open any catalog, I write down the jobs that need protection. For us, that list is usually:

• Work at height: harness, lanyard, connectors
• Material handling and debris removal: leather gloves
• Grinding, drilling, or cutting: impact-rated safety glasses
• Paint and chemical work: nitrile gloves

This sounds obvious, but it solves most of the "why did these gloves end up in a drawer" problems. Gear that doesn't match the task never gets worn.

2. Size the harness before adding it to the cart

We standardized on Petzl Corax harnesses for work-at-height jobs. The adjustability fits a wider range of body shapes than fixed-size harnesses, and the sizing is straightforward. The "petzl corax harness size 1" that shows up in most of our orders fits around a 29–34-inch waist. I want to say that's about 72–88 cm, but don't quote me on the exact cm—check Petzl's sizing chart before a bulk order. Size 2 covers larger waists.

What most people skip is sizing by more than waist. A harness can fit at the waist but the leg loops can still be too tight, or the dorsal anchor can sit too low. A harness that shifts under load changes the fall clearance. If you are issuing a Petzl Corax harness size 1 to someone whose leg loops are maxed out, order the next size. The 30 minutes spent fitting one person is cheaper than returning a case of harnesses.

3. Pair the harness with a lanyard you can actually inspect

We use a Petzl adjustable lanyard for positioning work. The adjustable feature lets a worker remove slack and keep both hands on the structure, which is worth the extra cost compared to a fixed-length lanyard. But an adjustable lanyard only works if the adjuster is clean and functions smoothly.

When a new order lands, I check each lanyard before it goes on the shelf:

• No cuts, fraying, or damaged stitching on the webbing
• The adjuster holds position when pulled and does not slip
• Connectors are not bent or corroded
• Lot number and inspection tag match the packing list

I have found a damaged adjuster on a brand-new Petzl adjustable lanyard. It could have been damaged in shipping or at the distributor—either way, new does not mean perfect.

4. Separate your glove orders by hazard

Leather gloves are not one SKU. For material handling, I buy grain leather gloves with reinforced palms. They cost more than the thin "leather-like" gloves, but they last longer, and workers actually keep them on. If a worker is doing hot work, those are a different standard entirely—do not load that person with a general-purpose leather glove.

And yes, the "is nitrile gloves latex free" question comes up with every new hire. Nitrile gloves are made from synthetic rubber and are generally latex-free, but "generally" is not good enough when a worker has a latex allergy. Check the carton for a "latex-free" label. Per FTC guidelines (ftc.gov), that claim has to be truthful and substantiated. If the package does not say it, do not assume it.

5. Buy transition safety glasses with the right markings

We switched to transition safety glasses after a worker wore personal sunglasses on a grinding job. Nothing happened that day, but I don't want to be the person who waits for something to happen.

Transition safety glasses darken outdoors and go clear indoors. That sounds like a convenience, but it is really a compliance feature: workers keep them on when moving between sun and shade. The catch is that not every photochromic lens is impact-rated. Look for the ANSI Z87.1+ marking on the lens or frame. If it is not marked, it does not meet our standard, no matter what the product listing says.

These cost more per pair. The cheap non-rated glasses fogged, scratched, and ended up in drawers. The transition pair lasts longer and, more importantly, gets worn. (Should mention: we also keep clear-only spares for indoor workers.)

6. Verify paperwork before you approve the invoice

I skipped this once. In 2022, I found a great price on lanyards from a new vendor—$1,800 cheaper than our regular supplier. They arrived on time. But the paperwork was a handwritten receipt, there was no lot-level traceability, and our accounting team had to chase the vendor for weeks. Including their time and mine, that discount turned into a $2,400 problem. We never issued those lanyards.

For anything from Petzl, ask for the lot number and, where applicable, the Declaration of Conformity. For gloves, the packaging should show the relevant standard, and the manufacturer should be able to provide a test report. For safety glasses, the lens marking is the first check—the catalog spec should confirm it too.

This is the step most buyers skip because it feels like red tape. It is not red tape. It is the difference between buying a product and buying proof that the product is what it claims to be.

7. Use reorder data, not last year's invoice

When I took over purchasing in 2020, I assumed reorder meant reordering the same SKUs. After five years and roughly 350 orders—maybe 320, I'd have to check the system—I've come to believe that reorder is a review point. Compare what you issued to what came back worn, damaged, or lost.

If you are replacing Petzl adjustable lanyards at a high rate, find out why before reordering more. Are they catching on sharp edges? Are they being used where a personal energy absorber should be? If workers are buying their own leather gloves because the issued ones split, that is a signal.

The lowest quote is rarely the lowest total cost. A $200 savings on a purchase order becomes a $1,500 problem once replacements, unusable gear, and admin time are included. I know because I have made that mistake.

The part nobody puts in the checklist

Maybe this should be step 8: include the people who wear the gear. I have mixed feelings about consolidating vendors. Part of me wants simplicity—one invoice, one login. Another part knows that redundancy saved us when a shipping delay on Petzl lanyards threatened a project. We compromised with one primary supplier and one backup.

It took me a few years to understand that PPE is not an expense category. It is a bet that every worker goes home. Buy gear people will wear, keep the paperwork, and do not let a price tag make that bet for you.