#499 How to Buy PPE & Uniform Without Getting It Wrong with Natalie Wilson

In this episode I sit down with Natalie Wilson, Founder and Managing Director of Workwear Solutions International, to explore one of the most important but often underdeveloped areas in the fire sector: how we specify, procure, assess and ultimately trust the PPE and workwear we rely on every day. 

Natalie brings more than 20 years of experience across the supply chain, procurement, technical assessment and standards development, including leading work on the world’s first inclusive PPE standard, and this conversation gets into the gap between something simply being compliant and it actually being fit for purpose, fit for the wearer and fit for the operational environment. 

We talk about the loss of experienced PPE knowledge as people retire, the importance of succession planning, wearer trials, standards, fit, inclusion, station wear, supplier engagement and how better questions can lead to better kit and safer outcomes. For anyone involved in firefighting, PPE, procurement, training, health and safety or leadership, I genuinely see this as essential CPD because understanding what we wear, why we wear it and how those decisions are made is fundamental to doing the job properly. 

Access all episodes, documents, GIVEAWAYS & debriefs HERE

Podcast Apparel, Hoodies, Flags, Mugs HERE

 Please check out our Partners supporting this episode are

William Wood Watches - Discount code FFPODCAST gives the user 10% off full range on website

PBI high-performance fabrics 

GORE-TEX Professional Clothing

MSA The Safety Company

JAFCO

USEFUL LINKS MENTIONED:

www.wsiltd.co.uk

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nataliewilson01/

Inclusive PPE Standard & Companion Guide links from BSI:

https://knowledge.bsigroup.com/products/provision-of-inclusive-personal-protective-equipment-ppe-guide

https://www.bsigroup.com/en-GB/insights-and-media/insights/brochures/how-to-turn-bs30417-into-action-companion-guide/