Making PPE Safer by Design for Women in Industrial Jobs
Women’s PPE shouldn’t just be sized down, it should be designed for their bodies.
- By Genevieve Baziw, Amber Izworkski
- Dec 01, 2022
In 2020, there were approximately 70 million women in the U.S. workforce, representing 56.2 percent of all workers, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics data. While substantially underrepresented in traditionally male-dominated industries, the number of women choosing to enter these roles continues to increase, a trend spurred by increasing opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics-related jobs.
According to a 2019 McKinsey report, 33 percent of entry-level employees in the oil & gas industry are women. And the American Petroleum Institute projects that employment of women in the oil & gas and petrochemical industries will account for 185,000 of the total job opportunities through 2030.
Despite the increasing number of women now working in these industries, there are still far too many who do not have access to PPE sized for women. Trying to “make do” with PPE designed for men is not only an issue of decreased comfort but also a matter of safety—potentially a matter of life and death.
Regulatory Compliance is Just the Beginning
Employers can be in compliance with OSHA regulations for PPE but may not be meeting the specific sizing needs of its female workforce.
That’s because OSHA 29 CFR 1910.132 “General Requirements for Personal Protective Equipment” states that an employer shall assess the workplace for hazards, select PPE that will protect affected employees from the hazards identified and select PPE that properly fits each affected employee.
Employers who offer the appropriate PPE for the identified hazards in a wide range of sizes will be in compliance with the regulation. However, if the PPE is designed for men, the women employees must deal with fit issues—compromising both comfort and safety.
It is interesting to note that in OSHA 29 CFR 1910 Subpart I Appendix B, there is non-mandatory guidance that states “Careful consideration must be given to comfort and fit. PPE that fits poorly will not afford the necessary protection. Continued wearing of the device is more likely if it fits the wearer comfortably. Protective devices are generally available in a variety of sizes. Care should be taken to ensure that the right size is selected.”
This article originally appeared in the December 1, 2022 issue of Occupational Health & Safety.