- Category
PPE & Workwear
PPE & Workwear for construction, rail, utilities, industrial and facilities teams who need reliable kit for busy sites, project rollouts and repeat orders. Order certified PPE, everyday workwear, hi-vis and rail clothing, women's safety clothing, flame retardant garments and site essentials in bulk ... PPE & Workwear for construction, rail, utilities, industrial and facilities teams who need reliable kit for busy sites, project rollouts and repeat orders. Order certified PPE, everyday workwear, hi-vis and rail clothing, women's safety clothing, flame retardant garments and site essentials in bulk, with fast nationwide delivery for trade and contract supply. The range includes gloves, hard hats, safety footwear, eye and hearing protection, fall arrest equipment, workwear, specialist visibility clothing and FR garments for higher-risk jobs. CMT helps contractors, procurement teams and facilities managers keep teams equipped with stock availability, account-based purchasing and repeat supply. Read more...Read less
Standards and certifications
| Subcategory | Relevant standards | What it means | Common use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Protection Equipment | EN ISO 20345, EN 397, EN 388, EN 166, EN 352, EN 361 | Product standards vary by item, from safety footwear and helmets to gloves, eyewear, hearing protection and fall arrest. | Construction, civils, rail, utilities and industrial sites |
| Workwear | Task-specific clothing; EN ISO 13688 or EN 14404 where applicable | Everyday site clothing for comfort, durability and team issue; selected garments may carry protective certification where required. | General site teams, contractors and facilities work |
| Hi-Vis Clothing | EN ISO 20471 Class 2 and Class 3 | Visibility clothing for site, road and logistics environments, with class determined by risk assessment and traffic management plan. | Roads, construction, logistics and utilities |
| Women's Safety Clothing | Relevant EN standards by product type; female-fit garment design | PPE and workwear designed to fit female workers properly, helping improve comfort, protection and compliance on site. | Construction, rail, utilities and industrial teams |
| Rail Clothing | RIS-3279-TOM; EN ISO 20471 | Orange high-visibility clothing for rail and trackside environments in Great Britain. | Trackside, rail infrastructure and Network Rail environments |
| Flame Retardant & Arc Flash | EN ISO 11612, EN IEC 61482-2, EN ISO 11611, EN 1149 where applicable | Specialist garments for heat, flame, welding, anti-static and electrical arc hazards. | Hot works, welding, utilities, switchgear and electrical environments |
Frequently asked questions
What PPE and workwear is legally required on a UK construction site?
Under the PPE at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended) and CDM 2015, employers must provide suitable PPE where risks cannot be controlled by other means. Most sites require, as a minimum, safety footwear to EN ISO 20345, head protection to EN 397 and hi-vis clothing to EN ISO 20471.
A site-specific risk assessment determines the full requirement, which may also include eye protection, hearing protection, gloves, fall arrest equipment and respiratory protection.
What hi-vis class is required for working near live traffic?
Class 3 hi-vis to EN ISO 20471 is typically required for work near live traffic on public highways, in line with Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 8 guidance. Class 2 is generally sufficient for most construction site environments away from live roads.
The project-specific risk assessment and traffic management plan determine the applicable class. View the full hi-vis clothing range.
Does rail trackside work require different hi-vis to standard construction PPE?
Yes. Trackside work in Great Britain requires orange hi-vis certified to RIS-3279-TOM, which is distinct from the standard yellow or lime EN ISO 20471 garments used on road and construction sites. Standard construction hi-vis does not satisfy the rail requirement.
CMT stocks a dedicated rail clothing range certified to RIS-3279-TOM for trackside and infrastructure environments.
Do women need different PPE and workwear to male colleagues?
Female site workers need PPE and workwear that fits correctly, as poor fit can reduce protection, comfort and day-to-day compliance. Standard male-pattern kit often does not provide adequate fit.
CMT stocks a dedicated women's safety clothing range including hi-vis, workwear and protective garments cut for female fit, meeting the relevant EN standards.
When is flame retardant workwear required?
Flame retardant workwear is required wherever the site risk assessment identifies hazards from heat, flame, flash fire or electrical arc. Typical applications include hot works, welding, utilities operations, switchgear environments and certain industrial settings.
Standard workwear is not designed or certified for flame or arc flash hazards. Garments should carry EN ISO 11612 for heat and flame, or EN IEC 61482-2 for arc flash, as appropriate to the identified hazard. View the flame retardant workwear range.
What safety footwear standard applies to UK construction sites?
EN ISO 20345 is the principal standard for safety footwear in the UK, requiring 200J toecap protection as a minimum. Common classifications include S1P (anti-static, anti-penetration, closed heel) and S3 (waterproof, anti-penetration, closed heel), with S3 typically required for outdoor construction and civil engineering environments.
A site-specific risk assessment determines the correct classification. View the safety footwear range.
Can CE or UKCA marked PPE be used in Great Britain?
Both CE-marked and UKCA-marked PPE can currently be used in Great Britain where the product carries the applicable marking, certification and documentation. Buyers should verify the relevant EN standard, declaration of conformity and supplier documentation.
For Northern Ireland, CE marking requirements continue to apply under the Windsor Framework. Contact our trade team if you need product documentation for specific compliance requirements.
Can we order PPE and workwear in bulk for a whole project or site team?
Yes. CMT can support bulk and repeat orders for trade, contract and framework buyers. Large-volume orders for whole project teams, site mobilisation packages and ongoing replenishment are available through the EDGE B2B Portal or directly through our trade team.
Contact us to discuss project requirements, quantities and lead times.
What is the difference between PPE and workwear for compliance purposes?
Under UK law, PPE means equipment designed and certified to protect against specific workplace hazards, as defined under the PPE at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended). Workwear is clothing worn on site that does not carry a specific protective certification.
Safety boots, hard hats, hi-vis and harnesses are PPE. General site trousers and polo shirts are workwear. Employers must supply and maintain PPE at no cost to the worker; general workwear obligations are set by employer policy and contract terms.
Does CMT support PPE inspection and replacement planning?
CMT supports repeat supply and replenishment for trade accounts through the EDGE B2B Portal and account management. PPE replacement schedules are set by manufacturer guidance, relevant EN standards and site-specific risk assessments.
Our team can assist with product selection and supply planning to support inspection-led replacement programmes. Contact us to discuss your requirements.
Need something more specific? Go straight to safety footwear, head protection, fall arrest equipment, women's safety clothing, rail clothing or flame retardant and arc flash workwear. Choose armourU for premium PPE, MAX for wider site supply ranges, use the EDGE B2B Portal for repeat ordering and trade pricing, or contact the CMT team for contract, framework and project supply.
UK-wide delivery
Next-day and VIP same-day delivery on stocked lines, with nationwide coverage for trade and project accounts.Stock availability
Large stockholding, easy reordering and repeat supply support for trade and project buyers.EDGE B2B Portal
Self-serve procurement with trade pricing, order tracking and easy repeat ordering for account holders.Brandit
In-house branding for PPE, workwear and safety clothing, including embroidery and print for site teams.Sustainable & compliance-ready products
Sustainable supply and compliance-ready products to support responsible procurement and social value commitments.Shop PPE and Workwear by Subcategory
PPE & Workwear
PPE & Workwear for construction, rail, utilities, industrial and facilities teams who need reliable kit for busy sites, project rollouts and repeat orders. Order certified PPE, everyday workwear, hi-vis and rail clothing, women's safety clothing, flame retardant garments and site essentials in bulk ... PPE & Workwear for construction, rail, utilities, industrial and facilities teams who need reliable kit for busy sites, project rollouts and repeat orders. Order certified PPE, everyday workwear, hi-vis and rail clothing, women's safety clothing, flame retardant garments and site essentials in bulk, with fast nationwide delivery for trade and contract supply. The range includes gloves, hard hats, safety footwear, eye and hearing protection, fall arrest equipment, workwear, specialist visibility clothing and FR garments for higher-risk jobs. CMT helps contractors, procurement teams and facilities managers keep teams equipped with stock availability, account-based purchasing and repeat supply. Read more...Read less
Standards and certifications
| Subcategory | Relevant standards | What it means | Common use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Protection Equipment | EN ISO 20345, EN 397, EN 388, EN 166, EN 352, EN 361 | Product standards vary by item, from safety footwear and helmets to gloves, eyewear, hearing protection and fall arrest. | Construction, civils, rail, utilities and industrial sites |
| Workwear | Task-specific clothing; EN ISO 13688 or EN 14404 where applicable | Everyday site clothing for comfort, durability and team issue; selected garments may carry protective certification where required. | General site teams, contractors and facilities work |
| Hi-Vis Clothing | EN ISO 20471 Class 2 and Class 3 | Visibility clothing for site, road and logistics environments, with class determined by risk assessment and traffic management plan. | Roads, construction, logistics and utilities |
| Women's Safety Clothing | Relevant EN standards by product type; female-fit garment design | PPE and workwear designed to fit female workers properly, helping improve comfort, protection and compliance on site. | Construction, rail, utilities and industrial teams |
| Rail Clothing | RIS-3279-TOM; EN ISO 20471 | Orange high-visibility clothing for rail and trackside environments in Great Britain. | Trackside, rail infrastructure and Network Rail environments |
| Flame Retardant & Arc Flash | EN ISO 11612, EN IEC 61482-2, EN ISO 11611, EN 1149 where applicable | Specialist garments for heat, flame, welding, anti-static and electrical arc hazards. | Hot works, welding, utilities, switchgear and electrical environments |
Frequently asked questions
What PPE and workwear is legally required on a UK construction site?
Under the PPE at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended) and CDM 2015, employers must provide suitable PPE where risks cannot be controlled by other means. Most sites require, as a minimum, safety footwear to EN ISO 20345, head protection to EN 397 and hi-vis clothing to EN ISO 20471.
A site-specific risk assessment determines the full requirement, which may also include eye protection, hearing protection, gloves, fall arrest equipment and respiratory protection.
What hi-vis class is required for working near live traffic?
Class 3 hi-vis to EN ISO 20471 is typically required for work near live traffic on public highways, in line with Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 8 guidance. Class 2 is generally sufficient for most construction site environments away from live roads.
The project-specific risk assessment and traffic management plan determine the applicable class. View the full hi-vis clothing range.
Does rail trackside work require different hi-vis to standard construction PPE?
Yes. Trackside work in Great Britain requires orange hi-vis certified to RIS-3279-TOM, which is distinct from the standard yellow or lime EN ISO 20471 garments used on road and construction sites. Standard construction hi-vis does not satisfy the rail requirement.
CMT stocks a dedicated rail clothing range certified to RIS-3279-TOM for trackside and infrastructure environments.
Do women need different PPE and workwear to male colleagues?
Female site workers need PPE and workwear that fits correctly, as poor fit can reduce protection, comfort and day-to-day compliance. Standard male-pattern kit often does not provide adequate fit.
CMT stocks a dedicated women's safety clothing range including hi-vis, workwear and protective garments cut for female fit, meeting the relevant EN standards.
When is flame retardant workwear required?
Flame retardant workwear is required wherever the site risk assessment identifies hazards from heat, flame, flash fire or electrical arc. Typical applications include hot works, welding, utilities operations, switchgear environments and certain industrial settings.
Standard workwear is not designed or certified for flame or arc flash hazards. Garments should carry EN ISO 11612 for heat and flame, or EN IEC 61482-2 for arc flash, as appropriate to the identified hazard. View the flame retardant workwear range.
What safety footwear standard applies to UK construction sites?
EN ISO 20345 is the principal standard for safety footwear in the UK, requiring 200J toecap protection as a minimum. Common classifications include S1P (anti-static, anti-penetration, closed heel) and S3 (waterproof, anti-penetration, closed heel), with S3 typically required for outdoor construction and civil engineering environments.
A site-specific risk assessment determines the correct classification. View the safety footwear range.
Can CE or UKCA marked PPE be used in Great Britain?
Both CE-marked and UKCA-marked PPE can currently be used in Great Britain where the product carries the applicable marking, certification and documentation. Buyers should verify the relevant EN standard, declaration of conformity and supplier documentation.
For Northern Ireland, CE marking requirements continue to apply under the Windsor Framework. Contact our trade team if you need product documentation for specific compliance requirements.
Can we order PPE and workwear in bulk for a whole project or site team?
Yes. CMT can support bulk and repeat orders for trade, contract and framework buyers. Large-volume orders for whole project teams, site mobilisation packages and ongoing replenishment are available through the EDGE B2B Portal or directly through our trade team.
Contact us to discuss project requirements, quantities and lead times.
What is the difference between PPE and workwear for compliance purposes?
Under UK law, PPE means equipment designed and certified to protect against specific workplace hazards, as defined under the PPE at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended). Workwear is clothing worn on site that does not carry a specific protective certification.
Safety boots, hard hats, hi-vis and harnesses are PPE. General site trousers and polo shirts are workwear. Employers must supply and maintain PPE at no cost to the worker; general workwear obligations are set by employer policy and contract terms.
Does CMT support PPE inspection and replacement planning?
CMT supports repeat supply and replenishment for trade accounts through the EDGE B2B Portal and account management. PPE replacement schedules are set by manufacturer guidance, relevant EN standards and site-specific risk assessments.
Our team can assist with product selection and supply planning to support inspection-led replacement programmes. Contact us to discuss your requirements.
Need something more specific? Go straight to safety footwear, head protection, fall arrest equipment, women's safety clothing, rail clothing or flame retardant and arc flash workwear. Choose armourU for premium PPE, MAX for wider site supply ranges, use the EDGE B2B Portal for repeat ordering and trade pricing, or contact the CMT team for contract, framework and project supply.
