15 December 2025
the selector’s blind spot: is your team up to date on PPE standards?
For many organisations, the assumption is simple – if protective workwear meets the minimum standards, they’re safe enough. Yet, our latest research into the utilities sector shows that this confidence may be misplaced.
Procurement teams and uniform selectors – even those with years of experience – are facing a widening knowledge gap that directly affects the safety of the people they are tasked with protecting. And it’s an issue that goes unnoticed far too easily.
Wearers rely on selectors to understand the complexities of PPE performance. Selectors rely on wearers to follow guidance. But, without robust training and a shared understanding of risk, this relationship breaks down, leaving gaps that compromise compliance, comfort and confidence on site.
This disconnect is no longer a minor oversight – it’s a blind spot.
the training gap you can’t afford to ignore
Despite the selectors surveyed having over eight years’ experience in their roles, fewer than two-thirds strongly agreed that they felt fully up to date with the latest developments in protective uniforms. That’s a concern in itself, but the knock-on effect is even more significant.
Selectors influence every part of the PPE cycle, from initial specification through to ongoing wear rates. If they are not fully informed, the entire chain of safety weakens. Workers may be issued with garments that technically meet the standard but do not offer the most robust level of protection available, or worse, uniforms may be selected without the comfort, mobility and fit that encourage consistent wear.
This isn’t about blame – it’s about structure. Procurement teams may not receive formal, recurring training on PPE, risk categories or evolving standards. So, without regular refreshers, vital updates slip through the cracks.
why ELIM matters – and why so many selectors overlook it
One of the clearest examples of this gap is the limited awareness of ELIM (Incident Energy Limit). According to our survey, only 27% of uniform selectors actively looked for high ELIM ratings when assessing new arc flash garments.
This is more than a technical oversight. ELIM is a conservative performance benchmark – the energy level at which there is a 0% probability of a second-degree burn during an arc flash. ATPV, by comparison, reflects a 50% probability at its stated value. Both are important, but ELIM gives selectors a clearer, more protective threshold.
The fact that most selectors still default to ATPV alone shows how quickly new standards can be missed when training isn’t formalised. In industries where arc flash risks are rare but potentially life-changing, missing this detail could be the difference between adequate protection and an avoidable injury.
Businesses must go beyond minimum standards and make ELIM ratings a routine part of procurement conversations and more crucially, a part of training for uniform selectors working within the electrical industry. When decision-makers fully understand what these ratings mean in practice and how they directly affect employee safety, compliance becomes more than a formality - it becomes an active commitment to protecting workers.
- David Ward, Technical Development Manager at alsico UK
accountability sits across the whole safety chain
Uniform safety is often seen as the wearer’s responsibility, but according to the Health and Safety at Work Act, it’s a shared responsibility. And it’s here our research highlights something important – knowledge gaps exist on both sides.
Regarding the wearer knowledge gap, they reported:
- 1 in 5 didn’t know the risk of not wearing their uniform
- 23% haven’t been told how to wear their uniform
- A third said they were not specifically told how to look after their uniform
Selectors, meanwhile, are not always equipped with the up-to-date knowledge needed to specify the safest garment for the job.
This shows a shared need: better education, clearer communication, and more structured engagement. When selectors are trained, wearers are informed, and manufacturers provide accessible guidance, accountability becomes shared rather than siloed.
closing the blind spot through continuous learning
To strengthen safety, organisations should look at PPE training for procurement teams the same way they look at safety briefings for wearers – essential, regular and built into business as usual. This could include annual training on arc flash concepts, refreshers when new standards emerge, and easy access to industry resources.
Selectors should also feel empowered to ask questions and seek clarity from suppliers. Collaboration with manufacturers, industry bodies and safety associations can unlock insight that goes far beyond the technical datasheet.
The goal isn’t simply to select the “right” PPE – it’s to understand why it’s right.
how alsico supports safer decision-making
At alsico we see first-hand how selector knowledge shapes safety outcomes.
Our work goes beyond manufacturing. We conduct research, support training and create resources that help teams understand complex risk environments. Our arc flash guide is just one example, developed to help selectors navigate arc flash hazards, energy levels and garment performance with confidence.
But lasting change must be collective. Wearers, selectors, and suppliers all play a role in ensuring PPE is not only compliant but truly fit for purpose.
ready to strengthen PPE selection in your organisation?
You can explore the full findings in our latest report, which analyses the knowledge gaps affecting wearers and selectors across the utilities sector.
Read the full report and speak to our team about strengthening wearer protection and PPE compliance.
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