Combatting substandard PPE

In the realm of workplace safety, the integrity of personal protective equipment (PPE) is paramount. To be blunt, PPE that does not fully comply with legal requirements in the UK is dangerous. Workers using non-compliant PPE will expose themselves to workplace risks thinking they are protected when they are not. Policing of the UK safety products market through effective market surveillance and enforcement is therefore vital for the interests of worker safety. The British Safety Industry Federation (BSIF) is proud of the important role it plays supporting UK authorities in this mission. It has recently published a white paper titled “Combating Sub-Standard PPE in the UK,” which presents results from the last year of extensive voluntary market surveillance that it carried out. The results of this work reinforce the message that, more than ever, employers, duty holders and specifiers of PPE need to be rigorous when verifying credentials of their PPE suppliers to ensure the products they purchase will perform as intended. The product test and assessment results from BSIF Registered Safety Suppliers’ were excellent when compared with non-registered suppliers. This article delves into the key findings of the white paper and highlights why it is a must-read for health and safety professionals and all those responsible for buying PPE.

The alarming reality of substandard PPE

The BSIF’s white paper reveals a concerning reality: a significant portion of PPE available in the UK market fails to meet regulatory standards. Between January 2025 and January 2026, the BSIF tested PPE from non-BSIF registered suppliers and found that a staggering 82% of selected products did not comply with regulatory requirements. This non-compliance spans various requirements, including technical performance, certification, documentation, and product marking. In high-risk categories such as hearing protection and working at height equipment, the failure rates for selected products from non-registered suppliers reached an alarming 100%.

These failures are not just theoretical risks; they represent real dangers. For instance, helmets that fail to absorb impact, respiratory protection that does not filter hazardous substances, and fall protection equipment that fails under load can lead to severe injuries or fatalities. The white paper provides detailed examples and statistics that highlight the potential harm caused by substandard PPE.

Much of the non-compliant, dangerous PPE was sourced from various online marketplaces. Legislation is still not in place to effectively police these supply channels though it is getting closer with the imminent consultation on secondary legislation for the Product Regulation and Metrology Act.

The role of the BSIF and the Registered Safety Supplier Scheme

The BSIF plays a crucial role in safeguarding the UK safety equipment market through its voluntary market surveillance and compliance work. While statutory enforcement of product safety regulations is the responsibility of Trading Standards and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) they demonstrably do not have the capacity to do this on their own. The BSIF’s efforts are vital in identifying dangerous, non-compliant products and supporting the HSE and Trading Standards with their policing activities.

The white paper highlights the role of the BSIF’s Registered Safety Supplier Scheme in keeping workers safe. This scheme provides a clear and accessible route for buyers to identify suppliers committed to compliance, transparency, and independent verification. PPE sourced from BSIF Registered Safety Suppliers demonstrated a consistently high level of compliance, with 96% of products meeting all required standards. This stark contrast with the 82% failure rate among non-registered suppliers underscores the importance of choosing verified suppliers.

Market surveillance and compliance efforts

The BSIF’s market surveillance efforts are comprehensive and ongoing. The organisation monitors both its Registered Safety Supplier members and non-member suppliers to ensure that PPE and related safety products available in the UK are compliant, genuine, and capable of performing to the standards they claim. This surveillance includes an annual assessment process, independent product testing, and documentation review for registered suppliers. For non-member suppliers, the BSIF conducts open-market sampling and independent testing to identify trends in non-compliance and highlight unsafe goods circulating outside the scheme.

The white paper details the various categories of failure observed in non-compliant PPE, including missing certification, incorrect markings, inadequate instructions, and misleading standards claims. These failures increase the overall risk to users and highlight the need for rigorous verification and trusted suppliers.

Case study: TikTok-promoted safety shoe recall

The white paper includes a case study that illustrates the real-world impact of substandard PPE. In 2025, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) issued a product recall for safety shoes sold via TikTok Shop. These shoes, advertised as “Men’s Anti-smash and Anti-puncture Shoes, Breathable Non-slip Work Shoes,” lacked valid CE or UKCA markings and had no evidence of conformity assessment. The OPSS classified the shoes as posing a serious risk of injury, confirming they had never been certified as PPE.

Strengthening PPE procurement processes

The BSIF encourages organisations to strengthen their PPE procurement processes by choosing Registered Safety Suppliers. This ensures that PPE is fit for purpose and sourced from compliant supply chains. By verifying supplier credibility and product compliance, buyers can protect workers and meet their legal obligations. The white paper provides practical guidance on how to strengthen procurement and pre-qualification processes, reduce risk from substandard PPE, and access expert guidance and support.

Conclusion

“Combating Sub-Standard PPE in the UK” is an essential read for health and safety professionals and PPE buyers and is available from the BSIF at https://bsif.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/Combatting-substandard-PPE-1.pdf. It highlights the critical role of verification and trusted suppliers in ensuring the safety of workers. By understanding the risks associated with sub-standard PPE and taking proactive steps to verify supplier credibility and product compliance, organisations can protect their workers and meet their legal responsibilities. This is backed up with data from the BSIF’s voluntary market surveillance work.

For health and safety professionals and all those responsible for buying PPE, it provides valuable insights and practical guidance on how to navigate the complex PPE market and ensure that the equipment used to protect workers is both compliant and effective. By reading and sharing this white paper, you can contribute to a safer workplace and help combat the dangers of substandard PPE.

For more information, visit www.bsif.co.uk