SHP publish first of its kind guide to procuring inclusive PPE in the workplace.
Dr. Debbie Janson
Written by Dr. Debbie Janson from the University of Bath, the e-book, Putting the ‘Personal’ into PPE, aims to guide the reader through the challenges, pitfalls and also opportunities of providing inclusive PPE in the workplace.
A lack of procurement knowledge is a key factor in firms being unable to offer its workforce inclusive PPE, with ambiguity around suppliers and retailers. Challenges also exist in purchasing responsibility which can vary by organisation. As such, the guide positions itself across all job titles and positions including procurement expert, business leader, end-user and health and safety professional, and draws on research, industry insight and management expertise to cover all verticals of the health and safety profession.
The guide also incorporates a practical toolkit of resources including self-assessment forms, email templates and a workforce PPE satisfaction survey, enabling users to practically approach the process of implementing a wide range of PPE equipment.
Dr Janson, Senior Lecturer within the University of Bath’s Department of Mechanical Engineering has published widely on the topic of inclusive PPE. Her 2024 study, Personal protection equipment: pockets, perceptions and equity – the untold truth of PPE: a reflexive thematic analysis, published in the International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics is made up of in-depth interviews with 30 women working in industrial environments, concluding that ill-fitting PPE contributes to their feeling of belonging, confidence and morale.
SHP began working with Dr. Janson this year initially reaching out as part of its own campaign around inclusive PPE. Discussions around a guide to procurement solidified when Editor Mark Glover commissioned the academic to produce the e-book. “I was delighted and humbled to be asked to write this e-book in conjunction with SHP.” she says. “I hope it will help highlight the real consequences of ill-fitting PPE, and the urgent need for inclusivity in PPE provision. Without properly fitting PPE for all, we can’t achieve a genuine safety culture. This e-book provides the evidence and insights needed to drive meaningful change, alongside a toolkit to help you implement an inclusive PPE provision in your organisation, protecting every member of your workforce.”
In her foreword to the book, Sandi-Rhys Jones OBE, a long-term inclusive PPE campaigner says the resource is much-needed: “This informative and practical guide provides guidance both for employers, including questionnaires and sources of information and also for employees, including suggestions on how to raise concerns and make requests. [It’s] A timely resource to help bring about change, providing safety, comfort and efficiency for the diverse workforce of today.”
Dr. Debbie Janson will be running a live study around inclusive PPE at Safety and Health Expo‘s Inclusive PPE Zone, part of Anticipate London. Click here to sign up and register for the event.
