Women in safety industries

It’s a positive step, even though long overdue. Afterall, it’s essential for the survival of industries like construction and engineering to benefit from the plethora of skills, talent, knowledge and expertise that women in these sectors bring.

And there are other encouraging signs of progress for women working in STEM and safety-critical roles. Specifically designed female-fit PPE is starting to appear higher on the agenda for many companies looking to protect their workforce, and this progress should give us cause for optimism.

But while these positive steps should be celebrated, data and testimonials consistently tell us that when it comes to reducing gender bias and making safety-critical industries places of equality, we’re still a long way off. For women to feel that the safety and STEM industries in which they work are places that value their input and appreciate their skill and dedication, there’s been some good work, but we’ve got to do more - and it’s work that needs to start at the top.

Female fit PPE - protection in the right direction

The importance of female staff having specific-fitting protective work wear is a much more frequent conversation being had by many manufacturers and distributors. Thankfully, these companies are finally realising that women’s bodies are different anatomical configurations to men’s, and therefore they need bespoke PPE - and putting up with wearing a smaller sized man’s protective workwear is simply not adequate – or safe.

A great example of a company putting female-specific PPE at the forefront is safety manufacturer, V12 Footwear. They developed their women’s safety range using a specifically designed last constructed from over 4,000 global foot scans. This means their women’s footwear accommodate both narrow and wide foot shapes, and ensures all styles in the range offer ultimate comfort by providing the best fit based on the shape and structure of the female foot.

Work to do – PPE is more than just comfort

Providing women with appropriate-fitting PPE has a big impact on comfort – but there other very important reasons why it’s crucial on site. 

Loose-fitting clothing can cause snagging and tripping which can lead to serious and even fatal injuries, and furthermore, too many people still think about Hi-Vis and hard hats when they think of PPE. Some might think ‘her gear is a man’s size so it’s a bit loose - that’s not the end of the world, is it?’ But what if the oversized PPE is a fall protection harness? Well, then it really could be the end of her world.

Finally, not offering the right equipment to a member of staff which endangers them is a clear statement of how little they are valued by the company. Specific-fitting PPE isn’t just about avoiding discomfort – it's about showing female employees they are valued and respected.

Lack of investment in women

There might be more female-fit PPE available than there used to, but more doesn’t mean enough. If you try searching for less common work wear and protection such as female-fit gloves or protective eyewear, you won’t find much.

No surprise then that a 2019 Women in Technology Survey showed that 47% of women leave their roles in the STEM industries compared to 17% of men. But how can we expect female workers to stay in these sectors when potentially life-saving protective equipment is either scare or simply not provided?

Also, this PPE might be on the market, but if the company won’t invest in it and make it available for their female employees, it’s not protecting anyone.

Data from Statista tells us that in 2022 there were 2,206,000 people working in construction in the UK, but only 14% were women. Now consider the recent Trades Union Congress report which highlighted that only 29% of surveyed females said they were given purpose-built female PPE. This means that last year in the UK construction sector, it’s likely that on average 219, 276 women were wearing the wrong – therefore unfit for purpose - PPE.

Not far off a quarter of a million women inadequately protected.

Maybe some companies’ PPE procurers are reluctant to source new and bespoke protection for their workforce because of the additional cost or inconvenience. But ultimately, it’s their responsibility, and it’s definitely not the female staff member’s.

It is, just like any culture change in a workplace, down to the leaders and decision makers to set the example that change, while often daunting or inconvenient is essential, particularly when it relates to people’s well-being.

Progress is more than just PPE

While PPE is one way of keeping women protected, comfortable and valued, there are a growing number of groups that are committed to supporting and promoting women working in the safety and STEM sectors. Combating inadequate PPE is one thing, but these groups remind us that we must combat inadequate attitudes to gender as well.

One of these groups is Bold as Brass, a network for women in industries such as mining and construction, who are striving to create equal opportunities by challenging outdated gender bias and misogyny in construction.

Bold as Brass founder, Katherine Evans, believes change has to start with the right opportunity from the employer.

‘Women need to be given the chance to delve into their company's job opportunities, rather than being pushed into admin roles, which they so often are. There are so many women sitting on untapped skills and expertise, and their employers need to give them the opportunity to use them.'

Katherine’s word ‘opportunity’ is key. It reiterates that whether it’s getting the right PPE or ensuring women can use their industry skills and knowledge - safety and equality are achievable – as long as the opportunity is there.

For more information on V12’s women’s safety range, visit v12footwear.com.