Branded PPE is protective equipment that carries a company logo, name or role marking. In the UK it must still do its protective job after branding. Choose PPE for the risk first, confirm it carries a valid UKCA or CE mark, then add branding in a way the manufacturer allows. This guide covers the legal duties, the rules for printed hard hats and branded hi-vis vests, how to pick a logo method, and how to look after the kit.
TL;DR
- Employers must provide suitable PPE free of charge to employees and limb (b) workers. Branding is optional; protection is not.
- PPE sold in Great Britain needs a UKCA or CE mark. Branding must not undo the certified performance.
- Hard hat shells should be marked only the way the manufacturer permits. Stickers, paints and solvent-based inks can cause damage.
- Hi-vis garments lose performance if they are cleaned badly. Set a care routine before you order logos.
- Ask your supplier to confirm each garment and logo method suits the job. Involve the people who will wear it.
Table of Contents
- Who must provide PPE, and who pays
- Choosing PPE for the job before choosing the logo
- UKCA and CE marks on branded PPE
- Printed hard hats
- Branded hi-vis vests and clothing
- Other branded PPE worth considering
- Choosing between embroidery and print
- Our perspective
- Looking after branded PPE
- Ordering branded PPE and workwear from Cwear
- FAQ
- Sources
Who must provide PPE, and who pays
The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 put the duty on the employer. Since 6 April 2022, the amended regulations extend that duty to limb (b) workers, and the equipment must be supplied free of charge. HSE’s guidance on the regulations is collected in Personal protective equipment at work (L25).
This matters for branding in two ways. First, a logo is never a reason to compromise on the specification. Second, if staff are expected to wear branded PPE, the business pays for it, including replacements.
PPE is also the last line of defence. HSE’s guidance on managing risk tells employers to work through the hierarchy of controls first: eliminate, substitute, use engineering controls, then administrative controls. PPE comes after those. Branded kit is a good way to make PPE recognisable and consistent. It does not replace a risk assessment.
Choosing PPE for the job before choosing the logo
Start with the task, the environment and the wearer. HSE advises employers to check with the supplier which PPE is appropriate and to explain the job to them. A short brief to a supplier should cover:
- The hazards: impact, falling objects, traffic, chemicals, splashes, weather, noise.
- The conditions: indoors or outdoors, day or night, hot or cold.
- The wearer: sizes, fit needs and any other kit worn at the same time.
- The volume: how many people, and how often items are replaced.
Check that items work together
Multiple risks mean multiple items, and they need to be compatible. HSE gives an example: safety glasses can break the seal of a respirator, leaving both items ineffective. Check combinations such as a hard hat with ear defenders or a hi-vis vest over a waterproof jacket before you order for a whole team.
Involve the wearers
HSE also advises involving workers in the selection of PPE, because people are more likely to wear equipment they helped choose. A trial of two or three options on site gives better information than a catalogue page.
Plan for fit and inclusion
PPE should not be altered by the wearer to improve fit, as this can add hazards such as entanglement or a compromised seal. Fit has to come from choosing the right size at the start. For mixed workforces, BSI’s 2025 standard BS 30417 gives organisations a framework for inclusive PPE designed for diverse physical characteristics. Ordering a full size range, with women’s cuts where relevant, is the practical first step.
UKCA and CE marks on branded PPE
PPE placed on the Great Britain market needs a conformity mark. Businesses can use either the UKCA mark or the CE mark, following the indefinite extension of CE recognition in GB. GOV.UK’s sector table lists PPE as UKCA or CE in Great Britain. The detailed requirements are in the government’s guide to Regulation 2016/425 and the PPE Enforcement Regulations 2018.
For a buyer, the practical checks are simple:
- The item carries a UKCA or CE mark and the standard it was tested to.
- The supplier can provide the manufacturer’s information and instructions for use.
- The supplier confirms in writing that the proposed branding method is suitable for that product.
Point three is where branded PPE differs from plain PPE. A certified product is certified as the manufacturer made it. Anything that changes the shell, the fabric or the reflective area needs the manufacturer’s agreement or a method the manufacturer allows.
Printed hard hats
Hard hats are the item where branding goes wrong most often. The shell is a safety component, and adhesives, paints and solvents can affect it. Honeywell’s support page on stickers and hard hat regulations explains that, based on EN 397, no helmet should carry additional stickers beyond the manufacturer’s own. It says marking is available through pad printing on an order for a printed hard hat. It also notes that labels make it harder to inspect the shell for cracks.
What this means when ordering:
- Ask for factory pad-printed logos from the helmet manufacturer or an approved printer, rather than adding stickers on site.
- Do not paint or write on shells with solvent-based products.
- Keep the design simple. One-colour logos on the front or side are easier to produce and easier to inspect around.
- Use colour for role coding where the site rules call for it: different colours for supervisors, visitors or trades.
If a team already owns plain helmets, ask the manufacturer before adding anything. Do not assume a sticker is harmless because it is small.
Branded hi-vis vests and clothing
Branded hi-vis vests are the most common branded PPE order. They suit sites, events, car parks, warehouses and contractors who need to be identified at a glance. A few points decide whether a logo order works.
Where the logo goes
A hi-vis garment gets its protection from fluorescent background material and retroreflective strips. A large logo covers part of that material. Ask the supplier how the proposed logo size and position affect the garment’s rated area and class, and keep logos to the chest, the back panel below the strips or the sleeve if the supplier confirms this is suitable. Check the label for the standard marking and class after branding, not only before.
Keeping it visible
Cleaning matters as much as the print. HSE warns that improper cleaning materials can significantly reduce the retroreflective performance of the strips, making wearers harder to see in low light or at night. Follow the care label, and replace garments that are faded, dirty or damaged.
Which garment
Vests are lightest and cheapest to issue. Jackets, sweatshirts and trousers suit colder weather and all-day wear. Our custom hi-vis range covers vests and clothing for branding. Items such as safety hi-vis trousers and the women’s PW3 hi-vis quarter-zip sweatshirt show the range beyond vests. Garments that need to hold up in rain are worth checking against the waterproof jacket ratings explained here.
Other branded PPE worth considering
Not every item in a PPE programme can carry a logo, and not every item should.
| Item | Branding approach | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Hi-vis vests and jackets | Print or embroidery on chest and back | Logo size against reflective area |
| Hard hats | Manufacturer pad printing | Stickers, paints, solvents |
| Workwear tops and trousers | Embroidery or print | Shrinkage, fabric weight |
| Safety glasses and goggles | Usually none | Do not mark the lens or frame |
| Gloves, ear defenders, respirators | Usually none, or packaging only | Seals and fit can be affected |
| Caps and beanies (not PPE) | Embroidery | Not a substitute for a hard hat |
Eye protection, respirators and gloves are normally issued plain. Their value is in the fit and the seal. Medical and splash eyewear, such as these medical splash goggles, should be chosen for the hazard and left unmodified.
Choosing between embroidery and print
For branded workwear and hi-vis, the logo method affects durability, cost and look.
- Embroidery suits polos, jackets, fleeces and hoodies. It is hard-wearing and looks formal. Our note on embroidery versus printing for 20 to 100+ uniforms sets out when each makes sense.
- Screen printing works for larger runs with few colours, such as hi-vis vests. DTF suits small orders and multicolour artwork. Six questions to ask are in DTF or screen printing for small businesses.
- Heavy embroidery on thin or stretchy fabric can pucker. Match the method to the cloth.
Fabric choice matters too. Garment weight in GSM and the choice between ripstop and twill affect durability, and test washing before a bulk order avoids sizing problems across a whole team.
Our perspective
Most problems with branded PPE start with the order sequence. Buyers choose a logo and a colour, then ask whether the garment is suitable. We think the sequence should run the other way.
Our view is that branding should be the last decision. Confirm the risk, choose the certified product, check the logo method with the supplier, and approve an artwork mockup before production. For uniform buyers in construction, hospitality, education and security, consistency is the real gain: staff are easy to identify, and the team looks organised. That gain only counts when the item protects the wearer.
We also suggest ordering a small sample batch for trial wear before a full order. Sizing, comfort and logo placement are much easier to correct at ten garments than at two hundred.
— Vinay
Looking after branded PPE
The employer’s responsibility does not end at delivery. HSE says employers are responsible for the whole life of PPE: maintenance, storage and replacement. Effective storage often means keeping clean, ready-to-use equipment separate from items waiting for repair or decontamination.
A workable routine:
- Issue each person items in the correct size and record what was issued.
- Provide a dry, clean place to store reusable items.
- Set a cleaning method that follows the care label, especially for hi-vis.
- Inspect before use. Remove damaged, faded or cracked items.
- Replace promptly, and reorder the same branded specification so the team stays consistent.
Ordering branded PPE and workwear from Cwear
We supply personalised PPE, custom hi-vis workwear, polos, t-shirts, jackets and hoodies, with embroidery and printing, bulk pricing and artwork mockup approval. Showroom visits are available. Start with the PPE collection or the hi-vis collection, or send a quote request through cwear.co.uk.
FAQ
What markings should PPE have?
PPE sold in Great Britain should carry a UKCA or CE mark. It should also show the standard it was tested to and come with the manufacturer’s instructions. GOV.UK guidance confirms either mark is accepted. Check the label again after branding.
Can I put a logo on a hard hat?
Only in the way the manufacturer allows. Honeywell states that stickers beyond the manufacturer’s own should not be added to EN 397 helmets, and that pad printing is available through an order. Ask your supplier for that route.
Does branding make hi-vis non-compliant?
Not by itself, but the garment must still perform as certified. Ask the supplier how the logo size and position affect the fluorescent and reflective area. Then follow the care label, because poor cleaning can reduce the strips’ reflectivity.
Who pays for branded PPE?
The employer. The duty to supply PPE free of charge covers employees and limb (b) workers where the risk assessment shows PPE is needed. Workers cannot be asked to buy it.
Sources
- HSE: Selection and use of PPE
- HSE: Managing risk using PPE
- HSE: PPE maintenance
- HSE: Personal protective equipment at work (L25)
- GOV.UK: Placing UKCA or CE marked products on the market in Great Britain
- GOV.UK: Product regulations by sector, UKCA and CE regimes
- GOV.UK: Regulation 2016/425 and the PPE Enforcement Regulations 2018
- BSI: Inclusive PPE and BS 30417
- Honeywell: Hard hats, stickers and regulations
