PCIAW Supports Inclusive PPE Standard to Improve Workplace Safety

The Professional Clothing Industry Association Worldwide (PCIAW) has backed the publication of a new British Standard

The Professional Clothing Industry Association Worldwide (PCIAW) has backed the publication of a new British Standard aimed at improving the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) to workers of all body shapes, sizes and needs.

The Provision of Inclusive Personal Protective Equipment guide, BS 30417:2025, offers practical, evidence-based guidance to help organisations manage PPE that protects every individual.

Inclusive PPE tackles long-standing issues with ill-fitting equipment that can compromise safety, hinder comfort and affect employee retention in sectors from construction to healthcare.

The standard emphasises inclusive selection processes, proper fit testing, ongoing training and supplier evaluation, helping employers meet health and safety, equality and employment obligations while improving worker protection.

PCIAW played a key role in steering the standard’s development through its board director and committee chair, Natalie Wilson, who led stakeholder collaboration across manufacturers, safety professionals and end users to ensure diverse perspectives informed the guidance.

The new standard was formally introduced at a parliamentary launch on November 12 at Dover House in Whitehall, London.