comments
EDITORIAL
By Benita Mehta,
ISHN Chief Editor
Women’s PPE options increasing
More suppliers understand need for apparel to fit all workers
espite growing numbers of women in transportation, construction and manufacturing, finding personal protective equipment (PPE) that fits women well remains difficult.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2021, women comprised 11% of construction workers, 7.9% of truck drivers, and 29% of manufacturing employees, and their numbers in these fields continue to increase.
Because women can be shaped differently from head to toe with vastly different body measurements, unisex or men's PPE often does not fit them properly. This can lead to a variety of safety hazards, including:
• excess material getting caught in machinery;
• gaps in coverage, leading to reduced protection; and
• loss of dexterity, which can cause incidents.
Efficiency is also lost when PPE is ill-fitting as well, as workers struggle to complete tasks or complete them much more slowly.
D
Photo: Benita Mehta
J.J. Keller introduces women’s line
J.J. Keller has recognized the need for additional PPE sizes that may be more suited to women and wanting to help companies promote safe and respectful workplaces. The company, based in Neenah, Wisconsin, will begin taking orders for its women’s line of SAFEGEAR™ PPE.
"PPE is the last line of defense between workers and the hazards they face on the job," said Robin Marth, EHS editor at J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc. "Of the many considerations surrounding PPE, proper fit is one of the most important. In fact, OSHA states that PPE used by women should be based on female body measurement data."
Among the items sized for women are high-visibility safety vests, jackets, sweatshirts and gloves.
"Customers told us that finding proper-fitting PPE for women was a real challenge," said Joel Clark, portfolio director at J. J. Keller. "We decided to develop PPE in women's sizes so that all workers can feel comfortable and protected."
Women’s PPE fashion show
At this year’s ASSP Safety conference, an energetic fashion show put on by the Women in Safety Excellence common interest group in the expo hall drew quite a crowd. The safety professionals showing off the latest trends in women’s PPE received enthusiastic applause as many in the audience were surprised to see that women’s PPE could be stylish and offer a good fit without compromising safety.
All of the women participating the show commented on how comfortable the clothing from brands such as Magid, Xena, Wrangler, Seraphina, Rockport, Radians, Bullard, FallTech, PIP, and others that have seen the value in recent years of making apparel and other PPE that works specifically for women.
As more companies make clothing for women, they will no longer have to deal with poorly fitting apparel.
August 2022
VOL. 56 NO. 8