Making PPE Fit As Standard

The importance of providing suitable PPE

Employers are required to provide employees with personal protective equipment (PPE) where risk assessment has identified that it is necessary to protect the person against risks to their health and safety. PPE should be provided as a “last resort” where the risk cannot be adequately controlled by other measures such as physically removing the hazard (elimination), replacing the hazard (substitution), engineering controls to isolate people from the hazard or administrative controls.

Ensuring PPE provides the right level of protection

Where PPE is provided, it is vital that it is effective, provides the right level of protection and does not create additional hazards. As well as considering the hazard, it is also important to consider the person who will be using the PPE:

•  a facemask will be ineffective as a filter for hazardous substances if it does not properly fit the face of the person wearing it,
• overalls that are too large for the wearer may increase the risk of entanglement
• workers may be reluctant to wear PPE that is uncomfortable or which doesn’t fit properly
• harnesses and lifejackets that are too large or small may not offer the required level of protection

New standard to support employees

Historically much PPE has been designed using data based on a standard reference figure that may not take into account factors such as gender, body shape, age or disability, etc.; however, this may not be suitable for an increasingly diverse workforce. A wider range of PPE is being made available, but it is important that employers are aware and select suitable PPE; not only does this better protect workers, but it also incentivises suppliers to make wider ranges available.

To support employers with selecting suitable PPE, the British Standards Institution (BSI) have published a new standard, BS 30417:2025 “Provision of inclusive personal protective equipment (PPE) – Guide”. This guide is aimed at supporting those responsible for procuring PPE with ensuring that it accommodates the needs of a diverse workforce.

Worker involvement is a key factor in selecting suitable PPE; other important factors include accommodating medical conditions and religious/cultural needs, providing appropriate PPE training, supervising and enforcing compliance and setting a good example.

BS 30417:2025 is free to download from the BSI website.

If you have any questions or would like support with managing issues at your workplace, please speak to your usual contact or get in touch using the form below.