Tailoring Safety: Addressing the Need for Women-Specific PPE

Women in construction can’t be fully safe and productive until the gear fits right. What can employers do to help ensure better gear from suppliers?

  • By Christine Robinson
  • Aug 01, 2024

As of 2022, approximately 10.8% of the construction workforce in the United States consists of women (BLS, 2022). This translates to more than 1.2 million women working in construction. One of the challenges that women in construction face is difficulty finding appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), an issue that can pose safety concerns on construction sites (ABC SoCal, 2023). 

Studies show poor-fitting PPE can affect job performance and risk of accidents (Brisbine, 2022). It might also be a factor in self-efficacy and productivity.   

PPE is an essential component of ensuring the safety and well-being of workers in construction. Ill-fitting PPE may compromise the effectiveness of equipment, reduce protection for workers, decrease comfort and mobility, impair communication and sensory perception, and result in skin issues and allergies. Ill-fitting PPE can lead to accidents resulting in fractures or sprains; debris can cause eye injuries when proper eye protection isn’t worn. Earplugs or earmuffs that don’t fit properly can contribute to hearing loss due to high noise levels. Inhalation hazards increase when respiratory protection does not fit well.

Furthermore, ill-fitting PPE may also cause discomfort and limitations that impose a psychological impact on workers. Feeling restricted, uncomfortable, and constant self-awareness caused by poorly fitting PPE can lead to increased stress levels, reduced job satisfaction, decreased morale, and impact the mental well-being of workers (Brisbine, 2022).

More than a decade ago Wagner, Kim, and Gordon (2013) conducted a mixed-methods study that examined women’s PPE/work clothing satisfaction using the Functional-Expressive-Aesthetic (FEA) consumer needs model. The study suggested a clear connection between satisfaction with PPE and work clothing, self-efficacy, and overall job satisfaction.  The study indicated that 95% of participants indicated they wear PPE at work, but only 6% indicated they had access to gender-specific (not unisex) PPE.

An Ongoing Struggle

In 2016, Onyebeke et al. concluded that women continue to struggle with PPE designed to fit male anthropometry. PPE is primarily designed with dimensions and data from a man’s body size, shape, height, and weight. Properly fitting gloves, harnesses, safety vests, work boots, and outerwear have been largely unavailable to women.  Much of the PPE available is too large for women, exposing them to a variety of safety hazards. In many cases, some women purchase their own PPE in an effort to overcome limitations. Overall, a lack of consideration for the PPE needs of female workers has left them with a perceived indifference from those responsible for occupational safety and health.

A study by Oo and Lim (2023) analyzed women's workforce satisfaction with PPE in the Australian construction industry. This study examined worker satisfaction with FEA and reported a low satisfaction level with PPE. The research findings underscored the importance of addressing construction women’s PPE needs, especially related to accessing properly fitting equipment.

PPE training emphasizes the need for employers and training organizations to review protocols and raise awareness regarding proper fit. Furthermore, PPE designers should consider comprehensive user needs, and the FEA consumer needs model could guide design improvements. Manufacturers should make women-specific PPE more accessible. Positive PPE experiences can enhance the employer-employee relationship and productivity.

Breaking the Cycle

There are more solutions to this ongoing problem for women workers in construction.  Employees should prioritize proper training and education on the importance of correctly fitting PPE so that workers are educated on how ill-fitting PPE can increase risks of illness and injury. Training programs can focus on identifying correctly fitting PPE and provide guidance on PPE selection.

This solution works only if employees have access to PPE designed to fit the unique anthropometry for women. Women have different body shapes; they may have smaller ear canals, and they may have smaller hands, feet, and heads. To help female workers with PPE issues:

  • Regular inspections and maintenance of PPE should be part of an OSH program. 
  • Protocols for reporting and replacing ill-fitting PPE should be established. 
  • Designers should consider the use of adjustable straps, ergonomic designs, and materials that promote breathability and flexibility. 
  • Minor tailor-made protective clogging and equipment may be necessary to ensure a proper fit for a worker.

The PPE supply chain involves feedback from employers to manufacturers. Some roadblocks for employers include the availability of gender-specific items, increased costs for the same product, and longer lead time when ordering for women. The OSHA General Industry Standard (29 CFR 1910) applies to a wide range of industries and workplaces. It mandates that PPE must fit properly to ensure worker safety, with a focus on providing correctly fitted PPE to all employees (OSHA, 2012a). The OSHA Construction Standard (29 CFR 1926.95) does not explicitly require PPE to fit properly (OSHA, 2012b). But that does not mean that all workers are not entitled to correctly fitted PPE. Regardless of industry, all workers should receive correctly fitted PPE. 

To quote Reagon Tonda from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, “Safety first means safety fits” from her paper and social media campaign designed to bring awareness to the lack of correct PPE for women (2023).

It is reasonable to ask for change in the PPE industry. Improvements for women may improve protection and comfort, eliminate the risk of impaired communication, reduce psychological impacts, and improve self-efficacy and work satisfaction for women. That translates into a safer, healthier, and more productive workplace.

References:

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

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