Knee protection

There's no separate legal requirement, but knee complaints from kneeling work are a recognized occupational risk that belongs in the risk assessment. If you work on your knees structurally, knee pads according to EN 14404 are the appropriate measure, together with varying your posture.

Inserts in trousers with knee pockets always stay in place and feel most comfortable for work where you alternate between standing and kneeling. Standalone knee pads with straps can be worn over any trousers and are handy if you only need them occasionally, but during long wear they can pinch behind the knee.

Type 1 are knee pads attached separately from the clothing, type 2 are inserts in a trouser pocket. There's also a performance level: level 1 for flat surfaces, level 2 for surfaces with stones and unevenness.

A non-marking knee pad leaves no streaks or stains on the surface. This is handy when you work on tidy floors, such as parquet, laminate or poured floors, or in customers' homes. Check on the product page which type and level according to EN 14404 the model has, so that it also suits the surface you work on.

Not always. Knee pads only fit in trousers with knee pockets, and the size of those pockets differs per brand and model. Portwest knee pads are made for the knee pockets in Portwest trousers. If you use trousers from another brand, check the dimensions of the knee pocket before ordering a large quantity.