Safety for Everyone: Women’s PPE

We all know that women’s PPE is not the same thing as pink PPE. For many reasons, putting female employees in pink versions of their male counterparts’ equipment is the wrong choice, especially when those options do not fit properly. OSHA Standard for General Industry 1910.132(d)(1)(iii) states that employers should “select PPE that properly fits each affected employee”. This is important for a couple of reasons. First, as many in the safety industry know, if the PPE doesn’t fit comfortably it is sometimes a battle to get your people to utilize it consistently. Additionally, even when it is being worn, PPE that does not fit correctly can create more hazards; whether that be loose fabric getting snagged or more room for particles to slip behind the lens of safety glasses. 

However, we have to also consider what happens when we put women in PPE that highlights their perceived difference in a workplace where they may already feel unwelcome. We know that many of our clients use pink PPE for visitors as a way to signal to their crews that there is someone on the site/in the plant who isn’t as knowledgeable about the way things work. What message does it send when we put female employees in those “different” colors too? While we know that most environments are becoming more welcoming, putting female employees in pink leaves room for mistreatment that would contribute to a different kind of safety concern.

Have you taken a look at your PPE options for women?