The psychosocial and physiological effects of ill-fitting personal protective equipment (PPE) for female firefighters in the United Kingdom

This project aims to understand women’s experiences of PPE within the UK Fire and Rescue Service, focusing on how ill-fitting PPE can affect comfort, safety, and physiological performance. This will be achieved using online surveys, qualitative interviews and physiological assessments.

Firefighting is a highly physically demanding occupation which requires a certain level of muscular strength and cardiovascular endurance. Women frequently experience ill-fitting PPE and are often issued male-specific PPE. Ill-fitting PPE can significantly compromise both safety and performance. Movement restrictions caused by ill-fitting PPE can delay task completion and increase the risk of musculoskeletal injuries.

1. What are the perceived psychosocial barriers and facilitators experienced with uniform and operational PPE for female firefighters?

2. What are the physiological effects of ill-fitting operational PPE on operational performance for female firefighters?

Study 1: Psychosocial barriers and facilitators of operational PPE for female firefighters

The first study aims to develop a deeper understanding of the key themes associated with perceived barriers and facilitators of current fire service uniform and operational PPE by female firefighters in the UK. It aims to address an identified gap in the existing literature, where previous research has tended to focus on theoretical and potential issues with PPE for female firefighters, but has not fully considered their first-hand experiences.

By conducting a structured investigation using both online survey and online interview approaches, the study seeks to generate meaningful insights that can inform future research, policy, and practice.

Study 2: The physiological effects of ill-fitting PPE in female firefighters

This study aims to understand the physiological effects of ill-fitting PPE in female firefighters whilst undertaking operational tasks. Previous research has highlighted potential physiological risks of ill-fitting PPE but, to the authors' knowledge, no study has directly measured these effects.

This project addresses an underrepresented research area. As the number of women joining UK fire and rescue services as operational firefighters continues to grow, the need for correct fitting PPE that supports their operational safety, performance, and wellbeing is important.

To date, most firefighter PPE is still designed around male anthropometric data. Female firefighters frequently work in PPE that compromises fit, comfort, mobility, and protection. This research will hope to generate the evidence necessary to drive organisational, cultural, and technical change, delivering wide social, economic, and professional benefits.

Ensuring that firefighters have properly-fitting PPE is important to public and occupational safety. Ill-fitting equipment can restrict physical movement and increase injury risk. By investigating these physiological consequences in detail, this project will provide the first UK-specific data on how PPE design affects the bodies and operational capabilities of female firefighters.

Equally important are the experiences female firefighters have with their current fire uniform and operational PPE. For many women, wearing uniform or operational PPE that does not fit can reinforce feelings of exclusion in a historically male-dominated profession. This research will aim to highlight these experiences, offering evidence and recommendations for fire and rescue services to adopt to support more inclusive cultures across the UK.