People wear what feels workable. If PPE is hot, heavy, or blocks vision and communication, it will be removed or misused. Managing comfort is therefore a core control measure, not a nice-to-have.

Remove the common barriers

Identify hot spots, long-wear tasks and poor visibility areas. Provide anti-fog eyewear, compatible hearing protection and lightweight gloves to avoid pressure points. Train supervisors to spot early signs of discomfort and intervene before rules are bent.

Choose equipment people can live with

Where tight masks are repeatedly disturbed or workers report breathlessness, consider air-fed masks to reduce breathing effort and heat build-up. Select sizes and harnesses that fit a range of faces and heads, and check compatibility with helmets and eyewear.

Manage heat and communication

Stagger breaks, provide shade and water, and use simple radios where noise or visors hinder communication. Clean PPE regularly to reduce skin irritation and odour, and allocate personal kits where feasible to improve hygiene and ownership.

Supervise and nudge

Use short on-the-spot refreshers, toolbox talks and visible dust monitoring results to reinforce why PPE matters. Keep spares and consumables at the point of use so there is never an excuse to go without.

Practical takeaways

• Audit tasks for heat, duration and compatibility issues.
• Prioritise comfortable, compatible PPE that users can wear all shift.
• Plan cleaning, replacements and easy access to spares.
• Support communication and hydration during hot work.
• Back up rules with simple supervision and feedback.

Comfort drives compliance. Make the easy choice the safe choice, and you reduce removals, improve real-world protection and keep productivity steady.