8 December 2025
comfort = compliance: why fit and feel are critical to safety
For some unbeknown reason, there has been a misconception that protective garments must feel stiff, heavy or restrictive to offer meaningful protection.
This belief persists across high-risk sectors, including utilities and energy, despite significant advances in fabric engineering and ergonomic design. The result is a lingering assumption that comfort and safety are opposing forces, when in reality they work best together.
However, it’s this thinking that can have real consequences on site. When workers believe discomfort is inevitable, they often accept ill-fitting or restrictive uniforms as “normal” – even when they limit movement or encourage unsafe adjustments. In hazardous environments, these behaviours can expose wearers to preventable risks.
what the data tells us about comfort and wear rates
Insights from alsico’s research demonstrate a clear and direct link between comfort and compliance within the utilities sector.
Almost half of workers in electrical environments said they would be more likely to wear their protective garments correctly if the uniform felt more comfortable. This highlights that discomfort is not a minor annoyance – it is a compliance barrier.
The research also revealed that many workers have not been told how to wear or look after their uniforms, creating a wider knowledge gap. When discomfort is paired with unclear guidance, the likelihood of non-compliance increases further; wearers may loosen, remove or modify garments to stay comfortable during long shifts, unintentionally reducing their level of protection.
design features that actually improve compliance
Modern PPE shows that comfort and protection can, and should, coexist. Garments designed with the right features can improve wear rates and support safer behaviours on site.
These aren’t style choices – they are safety decisions backed by wearer insight:
the selector’s role in choosing comfortable, compliant PPE
Comfort is not only a wearer concern – it must be a key part of the uniform selection process. Yet the research showed that many selectors need more support in understanding how comfort influences safety and how to assess protective garments effectively.
Less than two-thirds of experienced selectors felt up to date on modern PPE developments, and only 27% looked for high ELIM ratings – this suggests that some decisions are being made without complete information. Selecting garments that combine protection with comfort features is essential to improving wear rates and reducing risk.
Selectors also play a crucial role in education. Clear guidance, visual reminders and hands-on demonstrations help ensure that wearers understand how to use and care for their uniforms. So, when comfort and communication work together, compliance improves significantly.
how alsico combines comfort with protection
At alsico, our philosophy challenges the idea that comfort and protection are competing priorities. Through research, collaborative development and advanced fabric engineering, we create garments that feel better to wear and deliver the protection required in high-risk environments.
From stretch FR fabrics – like our new Kibo garment – to softer finishes and more ergonomic pattern cutting, each design decision is made with both safety and wearability in mind. We work closely with employers, safety leaders and procurement professionals to ensure our garments meet the practical needs of modern work, helping teams stay protected, compliant and comfortable across every shift.
By prioritising fit, mobility and modern materials, alsico is helping the industry redefine what effective PPE looks and feels like. This approach not only strengthens compliance across sites but also supports workers in performing their best, safely and confidently.
if you’re looking to improve PPE compliance across your teams, we can help
Our research-led designs combine industry compliant protection with comfort that encourages correct, consistent wear.
Start the conversation with our specialists today and discover how alsico can support a safer, more comfortable workforce.
learn more about the environments we supply into
Environments
wearer protection
Protection is weaved into every part of alsico, we build it into everything we do and it drives our every decision. Our protective workwear range covers all high-safety sectors.
Environments
healthcare
We are one of the largest healthcare uniform suppliers in the UK, and are the majority supplier for the new NHS National Healthcare Uniform project.
Environments
workwear
At alsico, we have shown excellence in a wide range of work uniforms, ranging from warehousing to global travel companies and from transportation to construction.
Environments
electrification
Our passion for creating innovative fabrics has positioned us as a key supplier in the exciting new sector of electrical safety clothing, from battery companies to aerospace, to all anti-static environments.
Environments
contamination control
We have developed a specialism in cleanroom clothing and uniforms, delivering exceptional performance in highly controlled environments.
Environments
emergency response
We are always honored to be asked to provide workwear for our emergency services teams. We put our trust in them to help to look after us, and we do our very best in return, delivering performance when it matters.
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