The gender PPE gap: How to support women in male-dominated industries

One explanation for the lack of women’s PPE is that women simply aren’t very prevalent in industries like construction and welding, which is why there often isn’t adequate provision of PPE such as welding protection garments, arc flash protective clothing and chemical-resistant workwear. 

However, this theory doesn’t hold up when you consider that even female-dominated industries have a gender PPE gap. For example, even though 70% of healthcare workers are women, there were reports throughout the COVID-19 pandemic that female workers were dealing with ill-fitting healthcare PPE, including masks that were painfully tight or slipping off, and gloves and scrubs that were too loose and therefore not adequate for contamination control. According to a survey of healthcare workers in 2021, just 14% of respondents used PPE fitted to them. 

Therefore, the gender PPE gap isn’t just a problem in male-dominated industries – it’s a problem across the board. This means that all industries and workplaces need to re-examine their PPE to find out if they’re providing adequate protection to all workers, regardless of gender.

Crucially, PPE that doesn’t fit properly won’t be providing enough protection for workers. One of the major issues for female workers is that their PPE is far too big, long or baggy. This can lead to protective equipment like helmets slipping off at dangerous moments, or workers could easily trip over work trousers or boots that are too long, leading to potentially serious injuries. Baggy sleeves can get caught in machinery, creating another potential hazard when PPE should be eliminate them.

To get around these problems, female workers may make adjustments to their PPE that compromise their health and safety. For example, rolling up too-long sleeves could make workers more vulnerable to cuts or chemical exposure, or tucking too-long trousers into boots can trap hazards like sparks or airborne materials inside PPE.

In addition to providing protection, PPE should also provide as much comfort as possible. This is because feeling uncomfortable has a direct link to poorer performance and productivity, so female workers may not be reaching their full potential if they’re constantly distracted by discomfort. 

For instance, if female workers are required to wear PPE that doesn’t account for female body shapes and is therefore far too tight around the hips and chest, this can cause a lot of discomfort, harming their focus and productivity. Plus, if poorly fitted PPE is actually restricting full movement too, this can impact performance or even increase health and safety risks, especially if swift movement is necessary in emergency situations.

If female workers are forced to wear ill-fitting, unsafe and uncomfortable PPE that wasn’t designed for their bodies, they may decide to not wear it correctly or forgo wearing some items altogether. PPE non-compliance is hugely problematic, as this increases the risk of workplace injuries, creates a culture of improper PPE use, and can result in costly legal ramifications for the employer.

So far we’ve only focused on physical consequences, but the psychological consequences of wearing ill-fitting PPE are also very important. Women forced to wear PPE designed for male bodies can feel as if this reinforces the fact they ‘shouldn’t be there’ – especially in male-dominated industries that women can struggle to break into, and where they may face a higher risk of harassment. By adding to this messaging that women don’t belong in these spaces, ill-fitting PPE can work against diversity and inclusion, pushing women out of these industries.

To promote equal opportunity in these industries, business owners must supply PPE that fits a wide range of body types, shapes and sizes, helping a diverse range of employees be safe and feel confident in their roles. This also applies to workers with disabilities or specific religious requirements, as PPE and workwear should be adjusted where possible to accommodate different bodies, beliefs (e.g., modest workwear), or the wearing of religious head coverings.

Employers are also responsible for ensuring that PPE fits their employees correctly and therefore provides an adequate level of protection. As we’ve established, PPE that doesn’t fit correctly can even create more hazards, such as the risk of falls or the risk of baggy clothing getting caught in machinery. Therefore, employers should – in theory – be responsible for providing appropriate PPE that’s fitted to workers’ bodies, regardless of gender.

However, the regulations currently don’t mention women’s PPE, so employers aren’t explicitly required to provide PPE for women. But since men’s or unisex PPE can often fit incorrectly on women, many employers are currently running the risk of not fulfilling their legal obligations. If female workers are injured as a result of poorly fitting PPE, this could cause a lot of legal trouble for employers who haven’t been assessing their PPE and adjusting it to fit their employees.

So, what can you do if you think you might not be providing the correct PPE? To stay on the right side of the law and keep your employees safe, here’s how you can ensure your PPE fits all workers: