Module 3 · Tool 10
Module 3 — Health & Safety from a Gender Perspective · Session 3.4

PPE That Fits

Personal protective equipment only protects when it fits. A practical guide to getting PPE that works for women and every body on site.

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How to use this tool
Read this first — it explains what you’ll do and why.

PPE is the last line of defence on site. It only works when it fits — and for years, it was designed for a body that isn’t everyone’s. This tool explains why fit matters, walks you head to toe through every item, and ends with a personal fit check you fill in for your own kit. If anything doesn’t fit, you’ll know exactly what to do about it.

1
See where PPE sitsWhy it’s the last layer — and why fit makes or breaks it.
2
Go head to toeCheck every item and where fit usually goes wrong.
3
Know good fitWhat proper fit looks like, including the face-fit test.
4
Complete your fit checkGo through your own kit item by item, mark what fits, and note the action for anything that doesn’t.
Self-guided (~15 min): work through each section, then complete the fit check on your own kit. Trainer-led (~50 min): best with real PPE to handle — learners try items and spot fit issues, then complete the check.
1
PPE is the Last Line of Defence
Session 3.4 · Good safety removes hazards first. PPE comes last — so it has to be right.

The hierarchy of controls is the order in which site safety works. The best controls remove the hazard completely. PPE sits at the bottom — it’s what’s left when a risk can’t be designed out. That’s why it has to work perfectly.

Best
Eliminate the hazard — remove it completely
Substitute — swap in a safer material or method
Engineering controls — guards, extraction, barriers
Administrative controls — training, procedures, rotation
Last resort
PPE — used when risk still remains ◀ This tool
The point: PPE doesn’t remove the danger — it stands between the worker and the danger. If it doesn’t fit, that protection has a gap.
2
Why Fit Makes or Breaks PPE
Session 3.4 · Kit that doesn’t fit isn’t a comfort issue — it’s a safety one.

For years, PPE was made for an “average” worker — usually a larger man. That’s changed, but ill-fitting kit is still common on sites. Here’s what it actually does.

Problem 1
It protects less
A mask that doesn’t seal, glasses that gap, a harness that’s loose — the protection simply isn’t there.
Problem 2
It creates new hazards
Oversized gloves slip, long sleeves and loose coveralls snag in machinery, big boots trip.
Problem 3
It distracts and tires
Kit a worker is constantly adjusting takes attention off the task — and that’s when accidents happen.
3
Head to Toe: Where Fit Goes Wrong
Session 3.4 · Work down the body — for each item, the question is: does it fit, and does it still protect?

These are the eight items you’ll check in the fit checklist below. Read the fit issue for each one now, so you know what to look for when you check your own kit.

⛑️
Safety helmet
Must sit level and stay put; an adjustable cradle gives a secure fit across different head sizes.
🥽
Eye & face protection
Should seal to the face without gapping or slipping down the nose — common on smaller faces.
🎧
Hearing protection
Must seal fully to the ear canal or over the ear; also needs to work alongside the helmet.
😷
Dust mask / respirator
Tight-fitting masks need a face-fit test. A mask that doesn’t seal properly provides no protection from dust.
🦺
Hi-vis & coveralls
Right length and cut; not so loose it snags machinery or trips the wearer on uneven surfaces.
🧤
Gloves
Correct size for grip and dexterity — oversized gloves slip and reduce grip on tools and materials.
👢
Safety boots
Proper size and support; women’s foot shapes differ from men’s in width and arch height.
🔗
Harness / fall arrest
Must fit the body shape to hold and distribute load safely — a poor fit can cause injury in a fall.
4
What Good Fit Looks Like
Session 3.4 · The standard — including the face-fit test for masks.
A good fit…
  • Stays in place when you move, bend and reach
  • Has no gaps where hazards could get in
  • Doesn’t pinch, dig in, or cut off circulation
  • Lets you grip, see, hear and breathe normally
  • Works together with your other PPE
  • Comes in your size — not just “small, medium, large”
Special case
The face-fit test for masks
  • Tight-fitting masks only work if they seal to your face
  • A mask that seals on one person may leak on another
  • A face-fit test checks the seal for you specifically
  • Facial hair breaks the seal; clean-shaven is needed
  • If it can’t seal, a different model or loose-fitting type is needed
5
Getting PPE That Fits — Your Rights
Session 3.4 · Suitable PPE is your employer’s duty, not a favour.

Ill-fitting PPE isn’t something to put up with. It’s a safety issue with a legal remedy. Here is what you’re entitled to and what to do.

1
Your employer must provide it

Suitable PPE, in the right sizes, at no cost to you — that’s their legal duty, not a favour.

2
Ask for the right size

“This doesn’t fit and isn’t protecting me” is a legitimate safety request. Put it in writing if needed.

3
Get a face-fit test for masks

Ask to be fit-tested for any tight-fitting respirator before you rely on it on site.

4
Report ill-fitting PPE

Treat it as a hazard: log it through your reporting route so it’s on record and gets fixed.

✎
Your Head-to-Toe PPE Fit Check
Go through your own kit item by item — tick what fits, flag what doesn’t, note the action.
Your check is not saved online. Use “Save as PDF” at the bottom to keep your copy. Refreshing this page will clear your entries.
How to use this checklist: for each PPE item, select whether it fits or doesn’t. If it doesn’t fit, write in the Action column what you need — for example “request size S gloves” or “book face-fit test.” The status panel below updates as you go. Anything in the “Doesn’t fit” column is an action — raise it with your supervisor or safety officer today.
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items checked — tick or flag each item in the table below.
PPE item Fits OK ✓ Doesn’t fit ✗ Action / what I need

Save your PPE fit check

Nothing you’ve entered is stored online. Save as PDF to keep a record of your check and any actions.