A bomb disposal suit includes a jacket, trousers, and a back protector connected between the jacket and the trousers. The back protector includes a body of impact resistant material having a plenum with an intake opening to receive forced air and with outlet openings to direct forced air out of the plenum. A fan forces air into the intake opening. The back protector can transmit load vertically from the jacket to the trousers, for example, via a back plate.