The Importance of Well-Fitting PPE and Workwear: An Ongoing Critical Safety Issue for Women

As we approach International Women’s Day, we strongly feel the importance to highlight an ongoing issue with Ill-fitting PPE and workwear, particularly for women.

We can all agree that PPE is essential for our safety, but when it’s a poor fit, its effectiveness can be significantly reduced putting workers at unnecessary risk.

Ensuring that PPE (including safety gloves), is properly fitted isn’t just about comfort; it's a matter of safety, performance, and inclusivity.

The Dangers of Ill-Fitting PPE

When PPE doesn’t fit properly, it ironically becomes part of the very issue it was designed to mitigate-for example:

• Gloves that are too large: Can reduce dexterity, increase the risk of entanglement in machinery, fatigue the user, and make the handling tools more difficult.
• Oversized clothing: get caught in Machinery & Equipment, Conveyor Belts, Power tools, Vehicles & Forklifts, leading to serious workplace injuries.
• Poorly fitting safety footwear can cause blisters, falls, and discomfort that may in the long-term lead to musculoskeletal issues.
• Ill-fitting respiratory protection can leave gaps, exposing workers to harmful substances.

These examples are particularly prevalent among women in industries where standard PPE and workwear have historically been designed for men. Many female workers are forced to wear PPE that is too big, bulky, or improperly shaped, which reduces their ability to work safely.

Women and PPE: An Ongoing Challenge

Despite increasing awareness, many women still struggle to find options that fit correctly. A "one-size-fits-all" approach often assumes a male body shape as the standard, leaving women with fewer choices. This not only affects safety but also contributes to a feeling of exclusion.

Inadequate PPE for women also discourages participation, and so, if we are to truly promote gender equality and diversity in the workplace, we must address this issue by providing properly sized and designed PPE for all workers.

Benefits:

• Enhanced Safety: Properly fitted PPE provides the protection it is designed for, reducing the risk of injuries and workplace incidents.
• Improved Performance: Workers can move freely and perform tasks with greater precision when their gear fits well.
• Greater Comfort: Wearing PPE for long shifts is far easier when it is designed for the wearer’s body shape, reducing fatigue and discomfort.
• Higher Compliance Rates: Workers are more likely to wear PPE correctly if it fits well and feels comfortable, reducing the likelihood of non-compliance.

The Need for Change

As we celebrate International Women's Day, let’s use this moment to push for change in the workplace. Employers, manufacturers, and safety regulators must work together to ensure that PPE is designed to accommodate all body types.

This means offering a wider range of sizes and tailored options for women, ensuring that everyone has access to workwear and safety gear that fits properly.

Investing in properly fitting PPE isn’t just about gender equality-it’s about making workplaces safer, more inclusive, and more efficient for everyone.

Let’s make ill-fitting PPE a thing of the past and ensure that all workers, regardless of gender, have the protection they deserve.