Before even starting with the
piece, let’s take a hard look at the PPE industry and market; while
manufacturing such gears and safety equipment, nothing is equal. Ask any women
from the associated industry and she would grimly testify to the fact that safety vests, safety masks, boots, eye wears
and every other equipment is primarily designed for males. In such conditions,
finding a size that would fit a female is almost impossible. Getting safety equipment for eyes, feet, face
and hands that fit perfectly and are comfortable is definitely an absolute
challenge, but women out there are facing a much graver issue. Usually, PPE and
other safety equipment like safety buffers and safety suits are designed for
males. Finding the equivalent size for females doesn’t give the sheer comfort
and practicality that is usually required to give your best during the work.
Several moves have been made by
various PPE organizations to support females in such kinds of jobs, but we are
very from the target. This is one of the aspects of the ongoing debate of gender-balanced workplaces, gender balance of employees, and gender balance in
salaries. For females to have true and actual equal opportunities in sectors
like construction and manufacturing, PPE manufacturers need to address the requirement
of PPE specially designed for females.
Safety Footwear:
In order to adjust with
ill-fitted safety footwear that is meant for males, several female workers
usually try hacks such as masking tape, extra socks which is additional
discomfort. Here we need to understand that there are major differences between
a male and female foot. Usually, the size of the average female is three times
smaller than that of an average male. Female feet are narrower with a wider
ball next to toes and again a narrower heel. Women workers need safety
footwear that is manufactured by using female foot casts so that the shoes
not only fit them in a better way but also accommodates foot’s shape.
Respiratory Protection
You must have noticed the face of
a female is quite different from that of a male when it comes to proportion. It
is physically smaller, but the major difference is in between the jawline and
chin that is less pronounced and gentler in females. With more and more females
entering this industry where they are vulnerable to toxic fumes and other
hazards on day to day basis, designing and manufacturing respiratory protection
gear especially for females has become the need of the hour. Just like footwear, there are numerous challenges in finding respiratory equipment that
is snug and offer comfort.
Sectors where women are
constantly exposed to dangerous and hazardous work environments such as mines,
construction, manufacturing, they are in dire need of PPE that is specially
designed for females and provide them a comfortable fit. With such PPE, they
would be able to concentrate on their jobs and would be more productive, rather
lack of comfort that is not just counter-productive but can prove fatal also.
With that being said, all PPE manufacturing companies should start paying more
attention towards this issue so that we can provide females a safer and
comfortable work environment, no matter where they work.
