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                                                                    Exhibit 10.9

                         NORCROSS SAFETY PRODUCTS L.L.C.
                            2211 York Road, Suite 215
                               Oak Brook, IL 60523


                                  June 25, 2001


Charles Ellis
9965 Westwood Manor Dr.
Germantown, TN 38139

Dear Sid:

          As we discussed, I am setting forth the general terms pursuant to
which you would become employed by North Safety Products Inc. ("North"), a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Norcross Safety Products L.L.C. ("NORCROSS"). We are
targeting July 15, 2001 as the start date for your employment.

          You would be employed by North as the president of North's United
States industrial division and will devote all of your business time and
attention to such endeavors, and to the extent requested, to the endeavors of
its affiliates. Your base salary would begin at $250,000 per annum (the "BASE
SALARY"), less applicable deductions and withholdings, with a target bonus equal
to 75% of Base Salary ("TARGET BONUS"), 75% of your Target Bonus would be
determined by North's board of directors based on the performance of North's
United States industrial division exclusively and 25% of your Target Bonus would
be determined by the North's board of directors based on the consolidated
performance of Norcross generally. Your guaranteed Target Bonus for the first
year of your employment is $110,000.

          Effective upon your start of employment, you shall be entitled to
participate in all employee benefit plans for which senior executives of North
are eligible. A summary of the terms and conditions of these employee benefit
plans will be sent to you shortly and will include information regarding the
Company's relocation plans to assist in your relocation to a residence near
North's Cranston, Rhode Island headquarters. You will also be entitled to
receive 140,000 unit appreciation rights for NSP Holdings L.L.C. (Norcross'
parent company), subject to the terms and conditions of the Unit Appreciation
Rights Plan previously distributed to you and your execution of appropriate
documentation in connection therewith. During the term of your employment, you
shall be entitled to three weeks' paid vacation. During the term of your
employment, you will abide by all of North and its affiliates' policies, rules
and regulations.

          Your employment with the Company is "at will," meaning that you may
terminate your employment with the Company at any time and for any reason
whatsoever simply by notifying the Company. Likewise, the Company may terminate
your employment at any time and for any reason, with or without cause or advance
notice. In the event that you are terminated without cause by North, you will be
entitled to severance pay equal to 150% of one year's Base Salary, less

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applicable deductions and withholdings, payable at such times as you would have
received your Base Salary had you continued to be employed, if you deliver to
North a release agreement in form and substance satisfactory to North.

          Commencement of employment shall be conditioned upon execution and
delivery of a standard, mutually satisfactory agreement containing non-compete,
non-solicit (each of which shall survive for two years after termination of
employment), confidentiality and work product provisions (each of which shall
survive indefinitely).

          This letter, upon your execution hereof, and the documents referenced
in this letter, contains the entire agreement between you and North and its
affiliates replaces all prior agreements, communications and understandings,
whether written or oral, with respect to your employment and all matters related
thereto.

          In signing this letter, you give North assurance that you have read
and understood all of its terms; that you have had a full and reasonable
opportunity to consider its terms and to consult with anyone of your choosing;
that you have signed this letter knowingly and voluntarily; and that in signing
this letter you have not relied on any promises or representations, express or
implied, which are not set forth expressly in this letter.

          We believe that your employment with North will prove to be a mutually
rewarding experience and look forward to the opportunity to work with you
towards North's continued growth. Please indicate your acceptance and
acknowledgement to this offer of employment by signing where indicated below.
Please contact me at (630) 572-8231 with any questions.


                                          Sincerely,


                                          /s/ Robert A. Peterson
                                          Robert A. Peterson


                                          Accepted, Acknowledged and Agreed to:

                                          /s/ Charles Ellis
                                          -----------------
                                          Charles Ellis

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                           COVENANT NOT TO COMPETE AND
                       CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION AGREEMENT

     This Covenant Not to Compete and Confidential Information Agreement
("Agreement") entered into as of the 17th day of July 2001, by and between North
Safety Products ("Company") and Charles "Sid" Ellis ("Employee").

     In consideration of the employment and/or continued employment by Company
of Employee for any period of time whatsoever, from and after the date hereof,
the mutual promises and covenants contained in this Agreement and for other good
and valuable consideration, the parties agree as follows:

     1.   Employee's compensation for services rendered to Company will be as
          indicated by a separate compensation letter, which may be amended from
          time to time, and is incorporated herein by reference.

     2.   Employee shall be entitled to reasonable vacations and time off when
          ill, as well as other fringe benefits, as outlined in Company's then
          current policies and procedures.

     3.   During the continuation of Employee's employment by Company, s/he will
          devote her/his entire business time, energy, attention and skill to
          the services of Company and to the promotion of its interests and s/he
          will not design, develop, sell or otherwise deal in any merchandise of
          any type except for that of Company.

     4.   Employee understands that this Agreement creates/continues an AT WILL
          employment relationship with Company, Employee further understands
          that this Agreement provides Employee with no rights to continued
          employment for any time whatsoever and s/he may be discharged at any
          time with or without cause. In the event a change of ownership occurs,
          the severance agreement as outlined in the offer of employment
          agreement dated July 17th (attached) shall apply.

     5.   Employee's position and title is President of North US Industrial.
          Employee shall perform all the duties and tasks required of a
          President of North US Industrial and such other duties as may be
          required from time to time by Company. Employee shall work those hours
          necessary to perform the duties required under this Agreement Employee
          shall devote her/his entire productive time, ability and attention to
          the business of Company during the term of this Agreement. The
          services of Employee shall be performed at such location as determined
          solely by Company.

     6.   Employee acknowledges that (1) Company's products are highly
          specialized items; (2) the identity and particular needs of Company's
          customers are not generally known in the industry; (3) Company has a
          proprietary interest in the identity of its customers and customer
          lists; and (4) documents and information regarding Company's methods
          of production, sales, pricing, costs, and the specialized requirements
          of Company's customers are highly confidential and constitute trade
          secrets.

     7.   Under no circumstances shall employee remove from Company's office any
          of Company's books, records, documents, or customer lists, or any
          copies of such documents, without the written permission of Company;
          nor shall Employee make any copies of such books, records, documents,
          or customer lists for use outside of Company's office except as
          specifically authorized in writing by Company.

     8.   (a)  As used herein, the term "trade secrets" and "confidential
               information" shall include, but are not limited to, any printed
               or written material which belongs to Company, any lists of
               clients or customers of Company, knowledge of customer
               requirements, contractors, subcontractors, technical know-how,
               special methods, procedures, sales techniques, prices, sales
               records, methods of production, and other techniques used by
               Company in Company's business.

               The above-mentioned "trade secrets" and/or "confidential
               information" have been or may be disclosed to Employee by
               Company, and Employee agrees that during and subsequent to
               her/his employment, s/he will not discuss, use or divulge to any
               person, corporation, company, or business entity, however
               organized, any trade secrets or confidential information, or any
               printed or written material which belongs to Company, except as
               authorized by Company in writing. The parties hereto stipulate
               that as between them, the "trade secrets" and "confidential
               information" described above are important, material, and
               confidential and gravely affect the effective and successful
               conduct of the business of Company, and Company's goodwill, and
               that any breach of the terms of this paragraph shall be a
               material breach of this Agreement. Upon termination of her/his
               employment for any reason whatsoever, Employee agrees to
               immediately return to Company all records, customer lists, or any
               printed or written material in her/his possession which belong to
               Company. Employee

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               will not use her/his knowledge of the business of Company for the
               benefit of herself/himself, or any other person or business, or
               divulge to others any information or data concerning Company's
               business affairs, including, but not limited to, records,
               documents, processes, equipment, property, the business or
               affairs of its suppliers or customers, the names of customers,
               names of employees, number or character of contracts, and prices,
               terms or particulars of Company's trade and business. Employee
               will, in good faith, protect the goodwill of Company's business
               and keep confidential her/his knowledge of such business affairs
               acquired while in such employ.

          (b)  All confidential information is the exclusive property of
               Company, even if Employee helped acquire or develop that
               confidential information.

          (c)  In consideration of Company's employing Employee in a position
               wherein s/he has and will gain specialized knowledge and
               experience of Company's customers, suppliers, employees,
               contractors and business strategies, Employee covenants and
               agrees that during the term of this Agreement and for a period of
               one (1) year from date of termination of Employee's employment
               for any reason, (or for a maximum period provided by law,
               whichever is less) Employee shall not directly or indirectly
               engage in competition with Company in any business or subdivision
               of a business which provides goods or services that are the same
               or similar to Company's nor will Employee, for said period of
               time become associated, affiliated or act in concert with any
               other employee or former employee of Company in a business
               capacity in a same or similar business as that of Company, nor
               shall s/he for such period solicit orders, directly or indirectly
               from any customers of Company for such goods or services as are
               sold or provided by Company, either for herself/himself or as an
               employee of any person, firm or corporation. "To engage in
               competition" includes, but is not limited to, engaging directly
               or indirectly, and irrespective of whether compensation is
               provided, as owner, employer, proprietor, partner, shareholder,
               principal, consultant, agent, independent contractor, officer or
               employee or acquiring an interest, in any business or
               subdivision of a business offering goods or services that are
               the same or similar as those supplied by Company.

          (d)  The parties have attempted to limit Employee's right to compete
               only to the extent necessary to protect Company from unfair
               competition. The parties hereby agree that, if the scope or
               enforceability of the restrictive covenant contained in paragraph
               9(c) is in any way disputed at any time, a court or other trier
               of fact may modify and enforce this covenant to the extent that
               it believes to be reasonable under the circumstances existing at
               that time.

          (e)  Employee further acknowledges that in the event her/his
               employment with Company terminates for any reason, s/he will be
               able to earn a livelihood without violating the foregoing
               restrictions and that her/his ability to earn a livelihood
               without violating such restrictions is a material condition to
               employment with Company.

          (f)  In the event of a breach or a threatened breach by Employee of
               the covenants set forth in this Agreement, Company shall be
               entitled to an injunction restraining Employee from the
               commission of such breach. Nothing herein contained shall be
               construed as prohibiting Company from pursuing any other remedies
               available to it for such breach or threatened breach, including
               the recovery of money damages, reasonable fees for its attorneys
               and costs. Company's decision not to enforce any noncompetition
               agreement against any consultant or employee of Company shall not
               constitute a waiver of any rights under this Agreement. Employee
               specifically acknowledges that irreparable injury will result to
               the Company and its business in the event of her/his violation of
               any of the noncompetition and nondisclosure provisions of this
               Agreement, and that Employee would not have been continued in the
               employ of Company and entitled to the benefits of an employee of
               Company if s/he had not entered into the agreements herein
               contained.

          (g)  The covenants of Employee in this Paragraph 8 shall be construed
               as an agreement independent of any other provision of this
               Agreement; and the existence of any claim or cause of action of
               Employee against Company, whether predicated on this Agreement or
               otherwise, shall not constitute a defense to the enforcement by
               Company of these covenants.

          (h)  All provisions of this Agreement are intended to be severable. In
               the event any term, provision, or restriction of this Paragraph 8
               is held to be illegal, invalid or unenforceable in any respect,
               such finding shall in no way affect the legality, validity, or
               enforceability of all other provisions of this Paragraph 8. The
               parties agree that any such unenforceable term, provision or
               restriction shall be deemed modified to the extent necessary to
               permit its enforcement to the maximum extent permitted by
               applicable law. In the event that any provision relating to time
               period and/or area of restriction shall be declared by a court of
               competent jurisdiction to exceed the maximum time period or area
               such court deems reasonable and enforceable, the time period
               and/or area of

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               restriction as provided in this Agreement shall be deemed to be
               the maximum time period and/or area which such court deems
               reasonable and enforceable.

     9.   (a)  Any and all inventions and discoveries, whether or not
               parentable, made during the employment period with Company, are
               the exclusive property of Company even if Employee helped develop
               or make the invention or discovery. Employee shall assign all
               such inventions to Company.

          (b)  As to all inventions, Employee shall, upon request of Company,
               (1) execute all documents which Company shall deem necessary or
               proper to enable it to establish title to or an interest in such
               inventions, or other rights, and to enable Company to file and
               prosecute applications for Letters Patent of the United States
               and any foreign country; and (2) do all things (including the
               giving of evidence in suits and other proceedings) which Company
               shall deem necessary or proper to obtain, maintain, or assert
               patents for any and all such inventions or to assert its rights
               in or interests to any inventions not patented.

          (c)  All expenses incident to any action required by Company or taken
               on its behalf pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall be
               borne by Company, including without limitation, a reasonable
               payment for Employee's time (based on his then current
               compensation rate) and expenses involved in case s/he is not then
               in Company's employ.

     10.  During the employment period or thereafter, Employee shall do all
          things, including the giving of evidence in suits and other
          proceedings, which Company shall deem necessary or proper to obtain,
          maintain or assert rights accruing during Employee's employment and in
          connection with which Employee has knowledge, information or
          expertise. All reasonable expenses incurred by Employee in fulfilling
          the duties set forth in this Paragraph shall be reimbursed by Company
          to the full extent legally appropriate.

     11.  Failure of either party to exercise any right and remedies hereunder
          shall not constitute a waiver of the right to exercise the same at
          that or any other time. Notwithstanding the fact that the obligations
          hereunder may be breached, accelerated, limited, or eliminated,
          Employee shall continue to be bound by this Agreement for the
          remainder of the term of the covenants.

     12.  Employee acknowledges that s/he has carefully read this entire
          Agreement and fully agrees with and understands all the provisions
          herein. Employee further agrees that no representations, other than as
          specifically contained herein have been made to Employee as a
          consideration of Employee's signing this Agreement. Employee
          understands the reasons for this Agreement and agrees that the terms
          hereof are fair in that Company has, at substantial cost, developed
          the trade secrets and taught them to Employee and will continue to
          develop trade secrets and teach them to Employee and has at
          considerable cost, developed a clientele and following, the identity
          of which has been confidentially disclosed to Employee, and that it is
          of critical importance to Company to maintain that the trade secrets
          and confidential information of Company not be used to benefit
          Employee or competitors of Company, nor unfairly used by existing or
          future competitors of Company and that the loyalty of Company's
          clientele and following not be unfairly diminished and that the other
          employees of Company remain loyal to and serve the interest of
          Company.

     13.  (a)  This Agreement supersedes any and all other agreements, either
               oral or in writing, between the parties hereto with respect to
               the employment of Employee by Company and contains all of the
               representations, covenants, and agreements between the parties
               with respect to such employment in any manner whatsoever.

          (b)  This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance
               with the laws of the State of Rhode Island

          (c)  It is expressly agreed that Employee shall have no right or
               authority at any time to make any contract or binding promises of
               any nature, whether oral or written without the express written
               consent of Company, notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to
               the contrary.

          (d)  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of the Company, its
               successors and assigns. Where necessary to the context of this
               Agreement the singular shall include the plural and vice versa.


BY EMPLOYER: /s/ Robert Peterson                 EMPLOYEE: /s/ Charles Sid Ellis
            ----------------------------------            ----------------------
            Robert Peterson; President and CEO            Charles Sid Ellis
            NORCROSS SAFETY PRODUCTS LLC

DATE:           7/17/01                          DATE:     7/17/2001
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