DIN Standards Committee Ergonomics
Anthropometric data for machinery and personal protective equipment
Call for Tender
CEN/TC 122/WG 1 is seeking subcontractors for the AnthropoMachPPE project
Machinery and personal protective equipment must be safe to use for people with different body dimensions. To ensure that harmonised standards can better reflect this diversity, up-to-date and representative anthropometric data are needed. This is where a current gap exists: there is no comprehensive, statistically representative and up-to-date dataset for the population of the EU.
This data gap makes it more difficult to develop inclusive and gender-responsive standards – particularly in areas where body dimensions are directly linked to safety, fit and usability. This applies to machinery as well as to personal protective equipment.
What preparatory work has already been carried out
CEN/TC 122 “Ergonomics”, and in particular CEN/TC 122/WG 1 “Anthropometry”, has already carried out the project “Making harmonised standards inclusive/gender-responsive” (ADULT ANTHR-DATA), funded by the European Commission and the European Free Trade Association. The feasibility study was completed in 2025 and describes various scenarios for a possible European survey to collect anthropometric data.
From data needs to a practicable measurement protocol
The need for anthropometric data is broad: different products, applications and user environments place different requirements on the data. However, a measurement protocol that fully covers all possible data needs would be too complex, too time-consuming and too costly for a European survey.
A practicable approach is therefore essential: the measurement protocol must capture as many relevant data needs as possible while remaining realistic to implement.
What AnthropoMachPPE is intended to achieve
This is where the new project “Anthropometric considerations for machinery/PPE” (AnthropoMachPPE) comes in. CEN/TC 122/WG 1 will validate the results and scenarios from ADULT ANTHR-DATA through case studies for machinery and personal protective equipment.
The aim is to:
- confirm the anthropometric data needs for the machinery and personal protective equipment sectors
- further develop, finalise and implement the measurement protocol and related processes – for example data flow and recruitment
- conduct an extended anthropometric pilot study
What expertise is being sought
Subcontractors are now being sought for central tasks in the project. The work will be carried out in consultation with CEN/TC 122/WG 1. The following roles are being tendered:
- Technical Project Leadership
- Research expertise in anthropometry applied to human–machinery and PPE interaction
- Participation in the anthropometric pilot study
Those with professional experience in anthropometry, ergonomics, machinery or PPE applications can help further develop the basis for more robust and more inclusive standardisation work in Europe.
How to participate
Download all relevant documents now and send your application documents to anthropomachppe@din.de by 30 June 2026. The exact details are provided in the call for tender.
