Overview

• What: Proposed changes to personal protective equipment (PPE) standard of fit requirements in Part 8 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.
• Who: Workers who use PPE, employers responsible for selecting and providing PPE, supervisors, joint health and safety committees, and worker health and safety representatives, and PPE suppliers
• Why: To gather feedback on the proposed amendments.
• How: Click on our feedback button to contact us
• Key topics: Personal protective equipment, PPE fit, worker safety, comfort, effective protection, PPE maintenance, PPE instruction and training, employer and worker responsibilities

Summary

WorkSafeBC is seeking feedback on proposed changes to Part 8 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation about personal protective equipment (PPE) standard of fit. The changes would introduce new requirements for PPE to fit workers properly, to be as comfortable as practicable, and to provide effective protection. These proposed changes also aim to clarify requirements for: selecting, fitting, using, and maintaining PPE; providing instruction and training; consulting workers; and reporting concerns about PPE effectiveness.

The changes are intended to address concerns that PPE does not always fit workers properly. PPE is often designed using average male body proportions and may not fit all body shapes and sizes. Poorly fitting PPE may not protect workers effectively and can create other hazards, such as tripping, getting caught in equipment, limited movement, or distraction. Workers may also be less likely to wear PPE that is uncomfortable or difficult to use.

The proposed changes would require PPE to be fitted according to applicable standards and the manufacturer’s instructions. Employers would need to consider workers’ characteristics when selecting PPE and consult a representative sample of workers during the selection process. The changes would also strengthen instruction and training on proper fit and require workers to report concerns about PPE fit and comfort.

Feedback from workers, employers, supervisors, joint health and safety committees, and worker health and safety representatives will help WorkSafeBC understand how the proposed changes may affect workplaces.

How you can share your feedback

To share your feedback on the proposed amendments to personal protective equipment (PPE) fit requirements, you can click the Feedback button at the top of this page to contact us.

You may also provide your feedback through the consultation page. You can submit online, by email, or by mail before 4:30 p.m. on Monday, October 26, 2026.

How your contributions make a difference

The feedback received will help identify potential benefits, challenges, and practical considerations related to the proposed amendments.

Your input will help ensure a range of perspectives and experiences are considered as WorkSafeBC reviews feedback on the proposed amendments.

Learn more

Please review the detailed information package to learn more about the proposed changes.

You may also wish to review the CSA Group’s report Canadian Women’s Experiences with Personal Protective Equipment in the Workplace (November 2022). The research explored the experiences of Canadian women who are required to wear PPE and identified common concerns related to fit, comfort, and the availability of appropriately sized PPE. The findings contributed to a broader understanding of PPE fit issues and helped inform the proposed amendments.