PPE for Women: Ensuring Safety and Comfort

Advancements in women-specific personal protective equipment (PPE) are helping improve safety, performance, and comfort for women in industrial environments, and there are several steps employers can take to better protect women workers.

• By Gina Godeen
• Aug 01, 2024

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential for ensuring worker safety in hazardous environments. Historically, PPE has been designed primarily for men. However, a male workforce no longer exclusively dominates the working trades.

In 2021, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that women comprised nearly 30 percent of the manufacturing workforce, and roughly 11 percent of construction. Those numbers have continued to grow in recent years. 

As more women enter industries like construction, manufacturing, and mining, the need for PPE designed specifically for women has been in greater demand. 

The Importance of Proper Fit in PPE

Ill-fitting PPE can pose significant safety risks. Loose-fitting apparel, for example, can get caught in machinery, compromising worker safety. Similarly, gloves that do not fit correctly can decrease grip, leading to accidents. 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has proper fit requirements to ensure PPE protects workers effectively. While this has been a long-time requirement for general industry, it’s not technically incorporated into the construction regulations. But that is expected to be changing soon. 

On July 19, 2023, OSHA published its personal protection equipment (PPE) in construction proposed rule. The proposed change would clarify that PPE must fit each employee properly to protect them from occupational hazards and would align the language in OSHA’s PPE standard for construction with its standards for general industry and maritime.

OSHA notes that the failure of standard-sized PPE to protect physically smaller construction workers properly, as well as problems with access to properly fitting PPE, have long been safety and health concerns in the construction industry, especially for women. 

Improperly fitting PPE may fail to provide protection to an employee, present additional hazards, or discourage employees from using it in the workplace.

Poorly fitting PPE can also hinder task performance, making work slower and less efficient. 

One woman from a National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) study shared her experience. “They gave me a welding leather jacket that was a foot longer than my hand. And gloves humongous I couldn’t even pick anything up.”

Because properly fitting PPE is crucial for worker safety, comfort, and performance, it is essential for employers to offer PPE in women’s sizes to better accommodate their entire workforce. 

Unique Requirements Based on Female Anatomy

The “shrink it and pink it” approach, where men’s PPE is simply made smaller and colored differently, just doesn’t cut it when addressing the unique safety needs of women. Women’s bodies are not just smaller versions of men’s; they have distinct anatomical differences that require specially designed PPE to ensure proper fit and protection.

For example, women typically have shorter torsos and wider hips compared to men. This difference in body shape means that PPE like vests, jackets, and harnesses must be tailored to fit shorter upper bodies and accommodate wider hip areas without compromising safety or comfort. Ill-fitting PPE in these areas can lead to significant discomfort and potential safety hazards, such as restricted movement or increased risk of entanglement.

Additionally, women generally have smaller hands and fingers than men. Gloves designed for men’s hands can result in a poor grip and reduced dexterity for women. This increases the risk of accidents when handling tools and equipment. Properly designed gloves for women should fit snugly, allowing for better control and comfort. 

Footwear is another critical area where gender-specific design is necessary. Women’s feet are often narrower with higher arches compared to men’s feet. Safety shoes and boots that do not consider these differences can lead to discomfort, poor posture, and even long-term musculoskeletal problems. 

Personal anecdotes and recent survey data confirm the unsafe reality of ill-fitting PPE in the workplace. 

A recent survey from J.J. Keller showed that 84 percent of female respondents explained that they have found proper fit to be a challenge. In total, 50 percent said that they “regularly” have trouble finding well-fitting PPE, while 34 percent said it happens “once in a while.” Only 16 women said they’ve never experienced this problem.

PPE must be designed based on female anthropometric data to ensure that it fits correctly and provides adequate protection. The failure to recognize and address these differences can lead to increased risk of injury and reduced PPE compliance among female workers. 

By prioritizing the unique anatomical requirements of women, employers (and manufacturers) can help enhance safety, comfort, and productivity in the workplace.

Recent Advancements in Women-Specific PPE

Fortunately, many manufacturers now offer PPE specifically designed for women. These innovations have addressed the unique anatomical needs of women, ensuring better fit, comfort, and protection. Examples of such advancements are provided below. 

High-Visibility Apparel: Manufacturers now offer high-visibility vests designed with women’s body shapes in mind. These vests often come in various styles, such as lime or orange polyester mesh with a drawstring waist and zipper enclosure. These options not only ensure that workers are highly visible but also that the vests fit comfortably, enhancing safety and compliance.

Hand Protection: Women’s gloves have seen considerable improvements in recent years. Designed for improved grip, extra warmth, or abrasion and cut protection, these gloves come in sizes ranging from extra small to double extra-large.

Eye Protection: Safety glasses are now available in different shapes and sizes to fit various facial structures. These glasses cater to the unique facial dimensions of women, providing a secure and comfortable fit that doesn’t slip off the user’s nose, helping prevent eye injuries.

Foot Protection: Safety shoes have also advanced to be specifically tailored to women’s foot sizes. Proper fitting footwear helps prevent injuries related to poor fit, such as slips, trips, and falls. These shoes provide better support and comfort, reducing the risk of long-term musculoskeletal issues.

Overall, these advancements in women-specific PPE represent a significant step forward in workplace safety and inclusivity. By offering a wide range of properly fitting PPE options, manufacturers are helping to ensure that women are adequately protected, comfortable, and efficient in their roles.

Recommendations for Employers

Employers should take several important steps moving forward:

First, it is essential to conduct regular PPE assessments. These evaluations should focus specifically on the needs of female employees, identifying any gaps or inadequacies in the current PPE offerings. By regularly assessing these needs, employers can stay ahead of potential issues and ensure that all workers have access to the necessary protective equipment.

Next, employers should stock a variety of women-specific sizes. Maintaining an inventory that includes PPE in various sizes designed for women’s bodies is crucial. This ensures that all female employees, regardless of their body type, can find PPE that fits them properly. An inclusive range of sizes helps in providing better protection and comfort.

Another critical step is to encourage feedback from female workers. Employers should actively seek out and listen to the experiences and suggestions of their female employees regarding PPE fit and comfort. By continuously collecting and acting on feedback, employers can make informed adjustments to their PPE offerings.

Finally, collaboration with suppliers is essential to ensure a steady supply of appropriately sized PPE for women. Employers should work closely with their suppliers to source women-specific PPE and address any shortages or gaps in availability.

Conclusion

Properly fitting PPE is essential for the safety and comfort of all workers, especially women. By providing women-specific PPE, employers can ensure their workforce is protected and compliant with safety standards. The future of PPE design must focus on expanding options for women to create a safer and more inclusive work environment. 

Employers, manufacturers, and regulators must prioritize the development and provision of women-specific PPE. Share your experiences and suggestions to help drive further improvements in PPE for women. Together, we can ensure that all workers, regardless of size or gender, are protected on the job.

This article originally appeared in the July/August 2024 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.