New BS 30417 standard offers guidance on selecting inclusive PPE
A new British standard has been launched to address the fit and suitability of PPE. The guidance is aimed at employers and available free to ensure accessibility.
‘Inclusive PPE’ refers to equipment that offers a fit for end users regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, body type, or disability, accounting for diverse needs without highlighting a point of difference between users or creating secondary hazards.
This does not mean that a piece of PPE is required to fit all wearers. The standard explains that employers may need to provide different PPE items to accommodate all employees.
Guidance for employers
It is worth noting that BS 30417 is a guidance document. The standard does not cover performance requirements or manufacturing specifications of inclusive PPE, and products will not be assessed or approved to BS 30417.
While it does call on manufacturers to design for inclusivity, the guidance is aimed at employers, outlining practical steps to selecting, providing, maintaining and replacing inclusive PPE.
Designing inclusive PPE
In the past, PPE was designed to fit the ‘average male worker’, often due to a lack of available representative data.
Recent product standards have sought to address the issue. The new EN ISO 16321 eye protection standard uses ISO 18526-4 test headforms that represent approximately 95% of the world’s population.
The ISO 16976-2 headforms introduced for respirator testing expanded the range of mask sizes available. For many years the only available sizing data was collected from predominantly male military-age participants. ISO 16976-2 was informed by a study that used a sample made up of male and female participants aged 18-66 years from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. This resulted in more representative test headforms, enabling manufacturers to develop masks that fit a wider range of wearers.
To supplement the standards wherever possible, manufacturers collect measurement data from and test products on a wide range of people, taking extra steps to design inclusive equipment. Find out how JSP develop and assess PPE to offer an inclusive fit for wearers of the Force®8 respirator range, disposable respirators and eye protection.
Selecting inclusive PPE
BS 30417 is the first standard to provide practical guidance for employers on how to make sure the PPE they supply offers a fit for all wearers. The standard emphasises the importance of engaging with employees during the selection process and to review the ongoing suitability of equipment.
Employers are encouraged to provide a selection of PPE that offers adjustable sizing, flexible configurations and customisable components to accommodate a wide range of wearers.
Requirements and needs assessments should be conducted to identify the challenges faced by those with diverse needs or special requirements when accessing and using PPE.
BS 30417 has been developed following the PPE That Fits campaign launched by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB). The campaign website includes a directory of manufacturers who offer inclusive PPE designed to fit a wide range of wearers.
For help selecting above-the-neck PPE that fits your workforce, contact sales@jspsafety.com.