PPE must meet defined technical and regulatory requirements, but compliance does not necessarily mean equipment will work equally well for every person wearing it
Fit, adjustment and compatibility can all affect how effectively it performs in use. Adam Evans, Managing Director, ABUS UK & Ireland, considers why fit deserves greater attention in the rail sector.
The issue becomes more apparent when PPE provision is based heavily around standardisation. A common range can simplify purchasing, stock management and replacement, but a standard issue does not necessarily accommodate a standard workforce.
Alongside gender, people differ in size, shape and physical characteristics and these differences can affect how PPE fits and functions. Where suitable alternatives are not available, workers may adjust equipment themselves, tolerate discomfort or repeatedly alter the fit during the working day or they may not wear PPE at all. These responses can affect the way equipment performs and the level of protection it provides.
Fit also needs to be considered across the combination of PPE being worn. Equipment selected individually may meet its own requirements but create problems when used alongside other items. Procurement needs to consider how products work together, as well as whether each item is suitable for the individual wearer.
Looking beyond standard provision
The issue becomes particularly relevant as the rail industry seeks to attract and retain a more diverse and inclusive workforce. The Chartered Institute of Building’s #PPEthatfits campaign has highlighted inequalities in PPE provision, including concerns around whether equipment is sufficiently inclusive for different users.
Providing suitable PPE should not require an individual to compromise safety, comfort or dignity because the available equipment has been designed around a narrower range of users. Inclusive provision is part of getting PPE selection right rather than a separate consideration from technical safety.
The same principle applies to other aspects of PPE provision. Workers need access to appropriate sizes and configurations, equipment needs to be adjustable where required, and there needs to be a straightforward way to report when something does not fit or work as intended.
Making fit part of procurement
Procurement decisions can determine how much flexibility workers have when PPE does not fit correctly. A tightly standardised range may be efficient to manage, but limited choice can leave individuals with equipment that is technically compliant but unsuitable in use.
Repeated adjustment, discomfort, interference between items or difficulty using equipment for tasks should prompt a review of the specification and available range, with the experience of those using the equipment informing that process.
BS 30417:2025, Provision of inclusive personal protective equipment (PPE) – Guide, provides a framework covering selection, procurement, fitting, adjustment, maintenance, replacement and training. It places fit within the wider process of providing and managing PPE rather than treating it as a one-off purchasing decision.
Fit becomes part of assessing whether equipment is suitable for the individual as well as the hazard it is intended to address.
Designing for the wearer
The focus on fit is influencing PPE design, with greater attention being given to ergonomics, adjustability and stability. Equipment needs to remain correctly positioned and usable throughout the working period rather than relying on the wearer to continually compensate for a poor fit.
ABUS has applied this approach to its SCATOR and SPECTOR safety helmet ranges for rail, infrastructure and construction environments, combining protection and compliance with attention to fit, stability and all-day wearability.
Industrial and climbing helmets are built to meet the relevant European standards with design decisions to focus on comfort, durability, and ease of integration with other PPE systems, helping teams carry out work at height safely and confidently.
In summary, for rail organisations, the question is ultimately how well PPE performs once it is being worn. Certification establishes equipment meets defined requirements, but selection also needs to account for the individual, the combination of equipment being worn and the conditions in which it will be used.
Fit should sit alongside specification, certification and compatibility when PPE is selected and reviewed. Equipment needs to meet the required standard, suit the task and work for the person wearing it. That is what makes PPE genuinely fit for purpose.
Tel: 0117 204 7000
Email: info@abus-uk.com
Visit: www.abus-uk.com
