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Fewer than one in three women are given protective clothing specifically designed for women, according to a report on Ill-fitting safety gear published by the TUC.
Despite a legal duty on bosses to provide the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to their staff free of charge, only 3 in 10 women (29%) told a survey that the PPE they wear to keep them safe at work is specifically designed for women.
Women responding to the survey reported that ill-fitting PPE which isn’t designed to protect women workers gets in the way of them doing their job safely.
For example, the wrong shoes or overalls can increase the chances of tripping, and safety harnesses, belts and body armour can rub against the skin if they do not accommodate breasts or hips.
The wrong shoes or overalls can increase the chances of tripping, and safety harnesses, belts and body armour can rub against the skin if they do not accommodate breasts or hips.
The report is published today to mark International Workers’ Memorial Day, an international annual day of remembrance and action for workers killed, disabled and injured by their work.
The report also reveals:
More than half of women (57%) responding to the survey said that their PPE sometimes or significantly hampered their work – including 95% of women working in emergency services.
More than 2 in 5 (41%) women said that the protective trousers that were given to them were inappropriate.
More than 1 in 3 (35%) found their overalls unsuitable for carrying out their work duties.
The problems are particularly acute when women become pregnant. The survey showed half of women who had been pregnant had been forced to cut back on their normal duties or had to change their role in the run up to giving birth due to suitable PPE not being available or supplied to them.
Ill-fitting Safety Gear Problem
TUC General Secretary Frances O’Grady said: “I’m shocked that so many women – even those working in frontline emergency services – do not have the right protective clothing to do their jobs safely.
“Bosses’ complacency risks serious injury. It shouldn’t be hard to ensure protective uniforms come in men’s and women’s sizes.
“Today on International Workers’ Memorial Day, we remember all those who have died at work – and pledge to redouble our efforts to make sure everyone is safe from illness and injury while they carry out their jobs.
“Trade unions have fought for protections from dangerous workplaces for as long as we have existed. I would urge anyone worried about health and safety at work to join a union.”
