BSI publishes ‘landmark’ inclusive PPE standard 

Through the consultation process, BSI has refined the standard to ensure it is relevant, clear and technically accurate. 

BS 30417 provides a framework to help employers, employees, procurement teams, and health and safety professionals ensure that PPE:

Sara Gibbs, standards development manager at BSI, said the new standard represents a “landmark moment for the construction sector and beyond”. 

“For too long, protective equipment has been designed around the average – a model that excludes many and compromises safety," she explained.

"BS 30417 aims to address this critical gap by ensuring that PPE must fit the individual, regardless of gender, body shape, age, or ability.

“This standard is more than a technical document; it's a statement of values. It reinforces the principle that everyone deserves protection that is not just available, but appropriate. 

“Poorly fitting PPE is more than a discomfort; it’s a safety risk. BS 30417 confronts the outdated ‘one-size-fits-all’ mindset and brings equity, inclusivity, and dignity to the forefront of workplace safety.”

The release of the standard coincides with National Inclusion Week (15-21 September) which, Gibbs said, underscores “a powerful message that inclusion and safety are inseparable, and both must be prioritised”.

BSI is currently planning a parliamentary launch, backed by growing government interest and the support of Kirsteen Sullivan MP, to highlight the national importance of the new standard.

Gibbs added: “This milestone would not have been possible without the relentless work of the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and its impactful #PPEthatfits campaign.

"What began as a call for change has become a movement, now enshrined in a British standard.”

#PPEthatfits was launched in 2023 to help address inequalities in the provision of PPE across the construction industry.

The campaign was spearheaded by CIOB past president Sandi Rhys Jones. 

“This isn’t about pink hard hats or extra-small hi-viz, it is about fundamental safety – something that is essential for an industry to demonstrate that it truly cares about attracting and keeping the people it needs,” said Rhys Jones. 

“It is also about more than construction and it is particularly rewarding that the process so ably driven by BSI has engaged with other industries and sectors.  

“What next? Not just properly fitting PPE, but PPE that can be re-used, recycled and that will keep workers safe in the extreme temperatures that are increasingly occurring in our climate-changing world.”

CIOB is expected to publish a Technical Information Sheet later this year which will help support members and the wider industry in adopting the new inclusive PPE standard.

For more information about the #PPEthatfits campaign and CIOB’s global directory of inclusive PPE suppliers, visit www.ppethatfits.com.