Rising Importance of PPE Designed to Fit Women

Working at Height Limited has been advocating for change when it comes to harnesses.

the term One-size-fits-all notions about personal protective clothing belong in the industry’s rearview. The increase in female workforce participation in traditionally male occupations continues to swell. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 1.2 million women were employed in the various sectors the biggest being construction in 2020 in the USA.

Upwards of 30 percent of the manufacturing workforce are women, and industries such as warehousing and trucking continue to push for a more gender-diverse employee pool. There’s no escaping the fact that gender barriers are disappearing, and protective clothing producers must account for physical differences. And, no, the idea of wearing a men’s protective suit one size smaller won’t cut it.

Women in the workplace require and deserve safety garments and more importently harnesses to fit appropriately. Comfort, agility, and breathability are foundational elements regardless of gender. The construction industry alone is expected to add upwards of 400,000 jobs by 2030, and a growing percentage will need protective clothing and harnesses designed specifically for women.