Women in Construction and Facility Safety: Driving Total Worker Health™ Forward

Women in construction and facility safety are reshaping workplace health by driving Total Worker Health™ forward through inclusive PPE, ergonomic solutions, psychosocial protections, and leadership advocacy.

• By Daniyal Shahid
• Aug 19, 2025

The Total Worker Health™ (TWH) approach is changing how safety and health are viewed in the workplace. Instead of focusing only on compliance or injury prevention, TWH integrates physical safety, mental well-being, and social support into one model. While construction and facility work remain among the most male-dominated industries, women are increasingly entering these fields—and in doing so, they are reshaping what safety means on job sites and in building operations.

Women’s Growing Role in Construction and Facility Work

Women still make up less than 11% of the U.S. construction workforce. Within that number, fewer than 4% work in frontline craft and trade positions. In facility management, women are better represented—about 25–30% of the workforce—but they remain underrepresented in leadership.

This matters because construction and facility environments pose some of the highest occupational risks. As more women step into these roles, they are bringing attention to hazards and policies that have historically been overlooked, including ergonomics, PPE fit, psychosocial risks, and leadership inclusion.

Physical Safety: Ill-Fitting Gear and Ergonomics

A key TWH challenge for women in construction and facilities is equipment that was never designed for them.

• Personal protective equipment (PPE). Gloves, harnesses, boots, and respirators are often sized for men, forcing women to work with loose, uncomfortable, or unsafe gear. Poor fit increases risks of slips, trips, falls, and exposure.
• Tools and ergonomics. Power tools and hand tools designed for larger hands or greater upper body strength can cause strain or force women into awkward postures, driving up rates of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs).
• Facility work. In roles like maintenance, custodial work, or HVAC service, women frequently face repetitive strain from lifting, bending, or working overhead without ergonomic solutions.

Employers embracing TWH must invest in gender-inclusive PPE, conduct ergonomic assessments, and ensure facility layouts account for diverse body types—not just a “standard male worker.”

Health Risks: Exposure and Long-Term Safety

Construction and facility work expose women to chemical, noise, and vibration hazards, yet exposure limits are still largely based on male physiology. This creates unmeasured risks, particularly around reproductive health. For example:

• Chemical exposure. Cleaning agents, solvents, welding fumes, and asbestos present risks that may affect women differently, but data is limited.
• Noise and vibration. Heavy equipment and power tools increase hearing loss and MSD risk, but studies rarely include female workers.

Total Worker Health™ emphasizes research-based protections. Employers should press manufacturers and regulators for gender-sensitive exposure standards and strengthen monitoring programs.

Psychosocial Safety: Harassment and Isolation

Construction job sites and facility environments often present social hazards for women as well:

• Harassment and bullying. Women in construction report higher rates of harassment compared to their male peers, leading to stress, distraction, and increased risk of injury.
• Isolation. Being one of the few women on a crew or facilities team can mean fewer mentors and limited peer support, undermining mental well-being.
• Work-life conflict. Long shifts, emergency call-outs, and rotating schedules in facilities often clash with caregiving responsibilities, creating added stress.

For TWH to succeed, employers must treat psychological and social safety with the same seriousness as hard hats and fall protection. This includes zero-tolerance policies for harassment, peer mentorship programs, and supportive scheduling practices.

Leadership and Representation

Despite gains, women hold only about 10% of construction management jobs and an even smaller share of executive roles in facilities. This matters because decisions about safety culture, budgets, and worker health policies are made at the leadership level.

Increasing representation in supervisory and leadership positions not only diversifies decision-making—it ensures that women’s perspectives on safety and well-being are included in company policies, training, and jobsite culture.

How Women Are Driving Change

Even as a minority in these fields, women are actively reshaping workplace safety through TWH principles. They are:

• Pushing for better PPE and tools. Advocating for equipment designed to fit all workers.
• Highlighting ergonomics. Drawing attention to MSD risks in facility and construction roles.
• Advancing mental health. Normalizing conversations about stress, burnout, and harassment.
• Promoting inclusive safety culture. Raising awareness of gender-specific risks and demanding fair treatment.

These efforts improve not only outcomes for women but also create safer, healthier job sites for every worker.

Building a Safer Future

To strengthen TWH for women in construction and facilities, employers should:

• Provide properly fitted PPE and ergonomically designed tools.
• Integrate gender-responsive health and safety policies, especially around exposure limits.
• Address harassment and social risks as core safety issues, not HR side notes.
• Support work-life balance through flexible scheduling and family-friendly policies.
• Expand mentorship and leadership pipelines to ensure women’s voices shape safety culture at every level.

Final Word

Women in construction and facility safety are more than trailblazers—they are catalysts for change. Their presence highlights where traditional safety programs fall short, and their advocacy ensures Total Worker Health™ reflects the needs of a diverse workforce.
By addressing barriers like ill-fitting PPE, harassment, and underrepresentation, employers can create inclusive, resilient safety cultures. The payoff is clear: when women thrive on job sites and in facilities, the entire workforce benefits.