The move comes as BSIF 2025 product testing shows that dangerous PPE continues to be widely available across some online marketplaces.
Examples identified during the testing period include safety helmets failing impact absorption tests, fall arrest equipment not meeting essential strength requirements, and protective footwear purchased online that lacked basic mandatory protective components.
BSIF CEO John Hooker said the results reinforce what we have consistently seen in previous years: “Online marketplaces pose a persistent risk, with unsafe and misleading products far too easy for buyers to encounter.”
Speaking specifically on the F&B space, Hooker added: “Workers may be exposed to wet or slippery floors, sharp tools and machinery, high noise levels, extreme temperatures and long periods standing on hard surfaces. In these conditions, PPE must remain comfortable, durable and effective throughout the working day.”
“If PPE does not perform as claimed, it can degrade quickly. For example, poorly designed safety footwear may lose slip resistance, cushioning or support far sooner than expected, increasing fatigue and the risk of slips, trips and other injuries. When PPE is uncomfortable or short-lived, it is also more likely to be worn incorrectly or avoided altogether.”
This call to review stock and sourcing methods also comes before major legislative changes are set to take place.
The Product Regulation and Metrology Act (PRaM Act) has brought online marketplaces into scope for product safety for the first time, requiring these vendors to take on new responsibilities for ensuring the products they host are safe and traceable; with secondary legislation currently being drafted.
At the same time, the BSIF is developing new guidance and checklists aimed at supporting safe online purchasing.
To reduce risk, the association recommends specifying and procuring PPE from Registered Safety Suppliers (RSSS) who are regularly assessed and are committed to ongoing product testing, legal compliance and staff competence.
“PPE must do exactly what it claims to do for the duration of its working life. Buying from a BSIF Registered Safety Supplier offers reassurance that products have been properly assessed, meet required standards, and will perform as claimed,” Hooker concluded.
