From hard hats and safety boots to respiratory protection and gloves, PPE stands as the frontline defence against hazards across a multitude of industries such as construction, healthcare, emergency services, agriculture, and manufacturing.
Yet, while PPE has long been a standard part of safety measures, one critical issue has been overlooked for decades: does everyone have access to PPE that fits?
The reality is stark. Too often, PPE is purchased / supplied for a mythical ‘average’ worker- traditionally a man of a certain size, shape, and build. This legacy approach to provision of PPE excludes large portions of the workforce, particularly women, people with disabilities, and individuals with specific ethnic, cultural or religious requirements. The result is equipment that doesn’t fit properly, reduces protection, and in some cases, introduces new risks rather than eliminating them.
The launch of BS 30417:2025 Provision of Inclusive PPE – Guide marks a turning point in tackling this issue head-on. This groundbreaking British Standard provides much-needed guidance to organizations, health and safety professionals, and employees, on how to ensure that PPE works for everyone, not just the mythical ‘average’ worker. By embedding inclusivity into PPE provision, it addresses not only safety but also wellbeing, belonging and performance in the workplace.
In this article, we’ll explore the background to the standard, why it matters now more than ever, and how organizations can lead much needed change in health and safety culture by adopting its principles.
The idea that one-size-fits-all PPE can protect every worker has never reflected reality.
There is no such thing as an ‘average’ worker – everyone has differences be they physical, physiological, ethnic, cultural, or religious that impact our needs when it comes to PPE. Yet much of the PPE being provided in the workplace has historically been supplied with an ‘average male build’ in mind. This has left many workers inadequately protected, uncomfortable, or excluded.
But while this challenge is real, it also represents one of the biggest opportunities for employers, employees, health and safety professionals and many others to reshape workplace safety.
When PPE doesn’t fit:
Safety is compromised – ill-fitting PPE is not fit-for-purpose because correct fit is paramount to achieving expected protection.
Compliance drops – workers are less likely to wear PPE that is uncomfortable or that hinders their performance.
Job satisfaction and retention suffer – Anyone who isn’t the mythical ‘average’ worker may feel like they don’t matter or belong, leading to lower engagement and resignations, not just from the company, but from the profession entirely.
Performance suffers – poor fit is a barrier to being able to move and function fully and properly, which in turn lowers productivity and performance.
The scale of the issue is significant. Our Enabling the provision of inclusive PPE whitepaper highlights that the estimated annual cost of workplace injury and work-related ill health in 2021/22 was £20.7 billion. Meanwhile, a 2017 Trade Union Congress (TUC) report found that 57% of women reported poorly fitting PPE sometimes or significantly hampered their work.
Together, these figures make clear that this is not just a problem to fix, but an opportunity to unlock:
Safer workplaces where everyone feels equally protected.
Higher compliance with safety protocols.
Stronger performance, productivity and wellbeing.
Better talent acquisition and retention and sustainability.
By addressing the shortcomings of one-size-fits-all PPE provision, organizations can seize the opportunity to redefine safety culture in a way that values every employee and reap the benefits of a healthier, more engaged, and more effective workforce. Introducing BS 30417: Provision of inclusive PPE - Guide.
BS 30417:2025 is the first British Standard of its kind dedicated to inclusive PPE provision.
Rather than setting manufacturing specifications or performance testing criteria, this standard provides practical guidance on how to select, procure, and provide PPE that accommodates the diversity of the workforce.
Key aspects of BS 30417 include:
Selection and provision: Guidance on choosing PPE that accounts for things such as physical, physiological, cultural, religious, ethnic, accessibility needs.
Supplier evaluation: Recommendations for developing specifications and working with suppliers who offer wider, more inclusive product ranges.
Fit and ergonomics: Considerations for ensuring PPE is safe, comfortable, and compatible with a range of users.
Maintenance and training: Best practices for maintaining inclusive PPE and training users to wear and manage it properly.
Workplace integration: Support for embedding inclusivity into broader safety policies and practices.
In short, BS 30417 does not ask organizations to reinvent PPE but instead to rethink how it is chosen, provided, and supported, ensuring all workers have access to equipment that equally protects them.
The timing of BS 30417:2025 could not be more relevant. Several factors make the call for inclusive PPE urgent:
1. An evolving workforce
Today’s workplaces are not what they used to be; they are ever more diverse and workforces with very different expectations. Women make up nearly half of the global workforce, and increasing attention is rightly being paid to the inclusion of disabled workers, minority groups, and individuals from varied cultural backgrounds. PPE designed for a narrow demographic no longer reflects the reality of modern employment.
2. Legal and regulatory obligations
UK and EU regulations already require that employers provide suitable PPE to all employees. Workers also have the right to be safe and to be protected from discrimination. BS 30417 provides organizations with a roadmap to meet these legal obligations and avoid compliance failures.
3. Culture and belonging
Workplace culture and belonging are increasingly important factors in attracting and retaining top talent. BS 30417 helps organizations improve their health and safety culture and practices in a way that makes all employees feel they belong and are valued.
4. Competition and resilience
Providing inclusive PPE will not only help employee engagement, but it will also improve performance and productivity - thus help organizations remain competitive. Inclusive PPE will also support retention of diverse talent. The research is clear: more diverse organizations perform better financially helping make them more resilient.
5. ESG (Environment Social Governance)
Organizations are increasingly being scrutinized for their ESG credentials by current and future talent as well as by clients, customers and suppliers. Providing inclusive PPE will help improve organizations’ impact in all three areas by improving employee health, safety, wellbeing and belonging, and reducing waste by eliminating PPE going unused because it does not fit.
Explore our Workplace Culture topic page to discover practical guidance that strengthens workplace culture, enhances safety, and fosters an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive.
The standard is designed for a wide audience, each with a unique role to play in making PPE inclusive:
Employers & HR Managers – to develop safety equipment policies that ensure PPE meets the needs of all employees.
Health & Safety Officers – to evaluate risks and introduce better-fitting, more suitable PPE.
Procurement Teams – to make informed supplier decisions that prioritize inclusivity.
PPE Manufacturers & Designers – to proactively help clients make more inclusive PPE selection and to help them understand the needs of a wider market.
Trade Unions & Worker Advocates – to campaign for equal access to fit-for-purpose protective equipment.
Occupational Health Professionals – to support worker wellbeing by ensuring appropriate PPE provision.
Industry Regulators & Compliance Bodies – to align with health and safety laws.
Employees (PPE Wearers) – to enable and empower speaking up about ill-fitting PPE
In short, if you are involved in selecting, buying, fitting, maintaining or using PPE or influencing PPE policies and provision, this standard is for you.
At its heart, BS 30417:2025 is about more than equipment. It is about changing safety culture in the workplace. Providing inclusive PPE sends a clear message to every employee: you matter, your safety matters, and your wellbeing matters.
By ensuring that protective equipment is accessible and functional for all, organizations can:
Break down barriers to participation.
Increase compliance with safety protocols.
Foster greater trust between workers and management.
Improve overall workplace morale and performance.
The benefits ripple outward: safer, more inclusive workplaces lead to higher retention, better performance, stronger reputations, and a workforce that feels valued and empowered.
BS 30417 challenges organizations to look beyond the status quo, take bold steps toward safety inclusivity and lead the change. Those that act now will position themselves at the forefront of safety innovation, employee care, and corporate responsibility.
Every worker deserves PPE that fits, protects, and enables them. Download your free copy of BS 30417:2025 today and join the movement to make workplace safety truly inclusive.