The British Standard Industry Federation (BSIF) has released the first in a series of videos that expose the critical failures of substandard PPE.
In the video, a footwear product marketed online as a “safety shoe” was tested to official British standards in laboratory conditions and failed to meet the basic protective requirements, including nail penetration, compression and impact tests.
The BSIF recently published a white paper, Combatting Substandard PPE in the UK, which revealed that in 2025, 79% of models that had not undergone BSIF testing failed to meet its criteria.
Scrutinise suppliers’ credentials
The suite of side-by-side testing videos aims to support the BSIF’s wider goal, urging those who procure PPE to scrutinise suppliers’ credentials and documentation.
It warns that using inadequate products can leave workers vulnerable to serious and life-altering injuries.
BSIF CEO John Hooker said: “Workers using substandard PPE are exposing themselves to significant workplace risks under the false impression that they are protected. A shoe that fails in a lab is a foot crushed on a construction site. We are urging everyone to look past the price tag and prioritise certified protection.”
