Phoinix, I take it that you haven't had to deal much with bureaucrats?
They are the easiest people in the world to get money and resources out of if you know how to speak their language. And all you have to do to speak their language is to show them how it will be THEIR arse on the line if something goes wrong.
For example, you need Nomex flight suits.
You simply go into their office with a sheet of paper that says something along the lines of:
I (insert name of jelly bum bureaucrat who is currently refusing the money) have on this day of our lord XX/XX/XXX denied the funds necessary to equip our flight crews with Nomex flight suits that are necessary to reduce the risk of burn to our flightcrew in the event of an incident or accident, thus exposing the (insert jelly bumbs dept) to law suits if an accident happens.
(jelly bumbs signature line)
(witness signature line)
Now this is the best part, after the above you put the disclaimer below it as no jelly bum will EVER sign anything that puts his beaureacratic arse on the line, so you have something along the lines of the following after it...
(insert Jelly bimbs name) refused to sign this document and still refused to release funds for the purchase of necessary flight suits on the day XX/XX/XXXX of our lord.
(your signature block)
(Witness signature block)
So you hand him both pieces of paper and say the one above will be going to your union/lawyer whatever to be held in case you have an accident. Jelly bums usually mutter something along the lines of "you can't do that", and you say "well it is done By-the-way, if you sign this purchase authorisation (hand him the already fille dout copy), you can have this piece of paper.
No it is not blackmail as it is purely factual and you are not getting personal gain out of it. Also get your OH&S people onto this as well and get their support. I have found OH&S people can be an absolute pain in the butt, however they are useful for getting stuff like this through tight arsed jelly bums.
Good luck, and remember, you are on their turf but they do actually have rules they play by, and the jelly bumb no. 1 rule is: Make sure I am never responsible for anything. SO if you hand them the piece of paper above it makes them directly responsible for your wellbeing if something happens, they cannot stand this and so they sign the purchase order.
Have fun now! (I always have!)
Cheers
CB