Marvin OnumonuThe British Standards Institution (BSI) has released a new standard aimed at closing gaps in the fit of personal protective equipment (PPE) for all workers.
The Provision of Inclusive PPE – Guide (BS 30417) is now available for free, offering practical advice to help employers provide PPE that fits regardless of gender, ethnicity, body shape, age or disability.
Traditionally, PPE has been made for the ‘average man’, which has left many workers with kit that does not fit or protect them properly.
Research found 46% of British women who received PPE or uniform were given something that did not fit.
In sectors like construction, healthcare and policing, poor-fitting PPE has led to safety risks, health problems and contributed to skills shortages.
The new standard includes detailed, evidence-based guidance for organisations to make sure PPE fits better, aiming to reduce risks and boost compliance.
It also aims to help employers retain staff and meet health and safety obligations.
Anne Hayes, director of sectors and standards development at BSI, said: “The provision of inclusive protective equipment isn’t just a matter of compliance, it’s a matter of respect, dignity, and safety for every individual in the workforce.
“Ultimately, it is about ensuring workers are equipped to get on with their jobs, in roles where their skills and experience are of considerable value.
“By providing PPE for everyone, we help build safer, more productive workplaces and stop skilled workers from leaving because they feel they don’t belong.”
Kirsteen Sullivan, MP for Bathgate and Linlithgow, said: “Since first meeting with local PPE manufacturers in November 2024, I have been shocked by the scale of poor fit PPE and companies relying on non-regulation products.
“The BSI has built a coalition which reflects manufacturers, experts, workers’ experience, and employers to deliver this new standard for British industry, and I am immensely proud to stand alongside them as they prepare to launch the standard.
“This is the perfect opportunity to match Britain’s project to re-industrialise with the PPE needs of the expanding and diverse workforce.”
Katy Robinson, founder of the PPE campaign and senior project manager at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “The launch of BS 30417 for the Provision of Inclusive PPE is a pivotal step for the campaigns that have been echoing across the construction industry over the last few years to bring about emphasis on the correct fit of PPE.
“In an industry where we have increasing diversity, it is vital that we work to ensure that everyone can work safely and comfortably, no matter their gender, ethnicity, religion, or disability.”
Natalie Wilson, BS 30417 chair and founder and managing director at Workwear Solutions International Ltd, said: “The positive impact this Standard will have for users of PPE starts with equity of access to correctly fitting PPE across diverse workforces, and leads to attracting and retaining talent, supporting people to return to work following long-term absences, and ultimately allowing more people to be able to operate safely across all industries.
“I am incredibly proud of the work undertaken from concept to launch of the Standard, and I’m excited to see its practical implementation over the coming months.”
Dr Debbie Janson, associate professor – people-led at University of Bath, said: “The introduction of BS 30417 is a landmark moment; it provides practical, evidence-based guidance for making PPE inclusive by design, provision and use.
“It supports my goal of driving change in industries where ‘making do’ has too often been the norm for those who don’t fit traditional standards. In a time when many sectors are facing serious skills shortages, the provision of properly designed PPE is a simple but powerful way to show that all workers are respected and supported.”
Rowshi Hussain, senior geo-environmental engineer at Curtins, said: “Being a part of the BS 30417 Provision of Inclusive PPE Guidance committee was extremely important to me given I represented a minority voice within the industry.
“The British Standard and committee have really empowered me to drive for change within the construction industry by creating a safe space to voice my opinions, challenge my own unconscious bias and open my eyes to the challenges of what ‘Inclusive’ PPE means for myself and for others beyond my own industry.”
