Achieving optimal protection from Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) depends not only on the quality of the product but also on how well it fits the wearer. JSP designs its head, respiratory, and hearing protection products to meet rigorous international standards; however, individual factors such as hairstyles, facial hair, head coverings, and accessories can significantly affect performance. The following guidance outlines the importance of correct fitting across key PPE categories to ensure users receive the intended level of safety and comfort.
Fitting of Head Protection – JSP protective helmets have been developed to perform as required by a number of standards. European standards include EN397 Industrial Protective Helmets, EN812 Industrial Bump Caps, EN12492 Helmets for Mountaineers, EN14052 High Performance Industrial Helmets, there are a number of corresponding and similar standards around the world. All these standards require the helmet to fit well to the head. Some hairstyles, the wearing of head coverings and surgical implants may limit the ability to wear the helmet correctly, for instance (but not limited to) thick dreadlocks, turbans and cochlear implants may mean that a helmet can not be worn correctly.
Fitting of Respiratory Protection – JSP Respiratory Protective Devices (RPD) fall in to two categories, tight and loose fitting. For tight fitting RPD, the wearer must be clean shaven and free from scaring, facial features and jewellery in the region of the face seal that will result in a compromised fit. Loose fitting RPD does need to fit close to the face to achieve effective protection, this does mean that those with large beards that can not by fitted inside the faceseal will have a compromised faceseal and may not receive the level of protection of protection. Similarly some types of head wear, such as, but limited to, turbans will not fit inside the hoods of some RPD and will reduce the level of protection the wear may receive.
Fitting of Hearing Protection – JSP ear defenders are designed to fit over the wearers ear and the ear pads/cushions seal against the head, the ear cups joined by a headband or a safety helmet. Anything that fits between the wearers head and the ear cushions such as spectacle arms, jewellery, and headwear such as turbans or beanie hats may reduce the level of protection that a wearer can receive. Headbanded ear defenders are designed so that the headband fits over the top of the wearers head against the head. Placing the headband over headwear or under the chin/behind the neck will reduce the pressure of the cup against the wearers head and may affect the protection levels.