One of the challenges facing women, non-binary workers, and transgender workers in the construction industry is accessing personal protective equipment (PPE) that fits properly. In a 2021 survey of 2,635 tradeswomen and non-binary tradespeople by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, only 19.1 percent of participants said that they were always provided with gloves or safety equipment in sizes that fit them while working. This is a serious issue because PPE that does not fit properly will not adequately protect against occupational hazards and may cause hazards in itself. For example, oversized protective clothing can lead to tripping hazards or get caught in machinery and result in a serious injury. Poorly fitted fall protection harnesses may lead to other injuries or may not be effective in the event of a fall. Similarly, gloves that are too big put a worker at risk of coming in contact with chemicals that can cause dermatitis or other skin diseases. Learn more about PPE fit from NIOSH’s Science Blog.
The number of women workers in construction is increasing, but women remain underrepresented in the industry. Between 2011 and 2022, the percentage of women in the construction workforce increased from 9% to 11% and the percentage of blue-collar women workers in the industry rose from 2% to 4% (https://www.cpwr.com/wp-content/uploads/DataBulletin-May2023.pdf). However, as of 2021, women accounted for only 3.7% of blue-collar occupations in construction, which is about one-fourth the level of women in blue-collar jobs across all industries (https://www.cpwr.com/research/data-center/data-dashboards/women-in-construction/).
Providing PPE that fits properly helps ensure that all employees, including women, non-binary workers, and transgender workers, are protected. The following list of examples of commercially available PPE has been compiled to help employers and workers in the trades find PPE that accommodates a range of anthropometry.
A PDF version of the list below is also available for printing here.
COMPANIES FOCUSED EXCLUSIVELY ON WOMENSWEAR:
- Xena Workwear for Women
- Libaerty
- Juno Jones Safety Boots
- Dovetail Workwear
- Red Ants Pants
- Seraphina Safety Apparel
- EMBHER
- Covergalls Workwear
- Dawson Workwear for Her
- Safety Girl
- Charm and Hammer
- See Her Work
CONSTRUCTION FOOTWEAR:
- Carhartt Footwear Wellington Boot ASTM 2413-18 EH compliant
- Caterpillar ECHO Steel Toe Boots
- Chippewa Tinsley Black Insulated Steel Toe Work Boot L73050 ASTM F2413 compliant
- Thorogood 6” Lace-up Work Boot MaxWear Wedge 814-4203
- Fusion MT Safety Boot
- Carolina 1428 Women’s Internal Met Guard Work Boots
- Various Work Boots and Shoes by Timberland
- Various Brands of Work Boots and Shoes at Ariat
- Various Brands of Work Boots and Shoes at Lehigh Outfitters
- Various Brands of Work Boots and Shoes at SafetyGirl
- Various Brands of Work Boots and Shoes at Steel-Toe-com
- Various Brands of Work Boots and Shoes at Quad City Safety, Inc
- Various Types of Work Boots and Shoes at Xena
- Various Brands of Safety-Toe Work Boots and Shoes at Grainger
- Various Brands of Work Boots and Shoes at Rockport Works
CONSTRUCTION FOOTWEAR COLD CLIMATE ACCESSORIES:
- ThermaCELL ProFLEX Heated Insoles
- Tingley Winter-Tuff Ice Traction Spikes 12061
- Yaktrax Pro
- Heat Factory Women’s Insole
EAR PROTECTION:
- Radians Retail Custom Molded Earplugs
- Radians Lowset 21 Earmuff NRR 21 dB
- HexArmor accuFit Disposable Earplugs NRR 30 dB
- Various Brands at Northern Safety
HARNESSES FOR PERSONAL FALL ARREST SYSTEMS:
- French Creek FRC01-872 Full Body Harness OSHA Compliant
- 3M DBI-SALA ExoFit NEX 613M2016 Cross-Over Harness AS/NZS 1891 Compliant
- Honeywell Miller Full Body Harness Model E570 OSHA Compliant
- FallTech FT-One Fit Fully Body Harnesses OSHA Compliant
- Miller Women’s Fall Arrest Harness E570 and E570-7 – ANSI A10.32, Z359.1 and CZA Z25 Compliant
HARD HATS:
- MSA Hard Hats ANSI 1 Type 1, Class E & G Compliant
- Bullard AboveView Helmet ANSI 1 Type 1, Class E & G Compliant
- Bullard S51 – Standard Series Cap Style Helmet with Ratchet Suspension ANSI 1 Type 1, Class E & G Compliant
- Various Brands at SafetyGirl
HIGH VISIBILITY CLOTHING:
- 3A SAFETY C3WIN5301 Jacket ANSI 107 Class 3 Compliant
- ERB SAFETY S720 Type R Vest ANSI 107 Class 2 Compliant
- GSS Safety Vest 7803/7804 Class 2 Compliant
- KISHIGO 1521 Type R Vest ANSI 107 Class 2 Compliant
- KISHIGO 1525/1526 Type R Vest ANSI 107 Class 2 Compliant
- KISHIGO Unisex Soft Shell Jacket JS144 ANSI 107 Class 3 Compliant
- Radians SVL1-2ZGD Type R Vest ANSI 107 Class 2 compliant
- MCR Safety LVCL2ML Type R Vest ANSI 107 Class 2 Compliant
- Utility Pro Full Zip Soft Shell Jacket UHV668 ANSI 107 Class 2 Compliant
- Utility Pro Parka UHV664 ANSI 107 Class 2 Compliant
- SeeHerWork Women’s ANSI 107 Class 2 Safety Vest
- ERB W651 Type R Women’s Soft Shell Safety Jacket ANSI 107 Class 2 Compliant
- Blaklader Women’s Hi-Vis Softshell ANSI/ISEA 107-2015 Type R, Class 2
- S5021/S5022 HiVis Women’s Black Series Heavy Duty Surveyors Safety Vest ANSI/ISEA 107 Type R, Class 2
- Portwest PW382 – PW3 Hi-Vis Women’s Winter Jacket ANSI/ISEA 107 Type R Class 2
- Various Types of High Vis Clothes from Lino Safety Clothing Specialist
FLAME RESISTANT CLOTHING:
- Carhartt FR Rugged Flex Coverall NFPA 70E and NFPA 2112 Compliant
- Carhartt FR Full Swing Quick Duck Jacket NFPA 70E and NFPA 2112 Compliant
- Carhartt FR Rugged Flex Relaxed Fit Canvas Work Pant NFPA 70E and NFPA 2112 Compliant
- Various FR Work Apparel by Bulwark
- Various FR Work Apparel by True North Gear
- Various FR Work Apparel by Lapco
- Various FR Work Apparel by Wrangler
- Various FR Work Apparel by Tyndale (Includes maternity clothing options)
- Various FR Work Apparel by National Safety Gear (Includes maternity clothing options)
SAFETY GLASSES AND GOGGLES:
- Bouton Eva Petite Safety Glasses ANSI 1+ Compliant
- Crews CR2 Safety Glasses ANSI 1+ Compliant
- Delta Plus Avion Women’s Safety Glasses ANSI 1+ Compliant
- Radians Mirage Small Safety Eyewear ANSI 1+ compliant
- Radians Micro Shooting Glass ANSI 1+ Compliant
- Gateway Safety StarLite SM ANSI 1+ Compliant
- Gateway Safety Scorpion SM ANSI 1+ Compliant
- Pyramex I-Force Slim Dual Pane Goggles – H2X Anti-Fog Lens
- Indirect Vented Small Splash Goggles
- Various Safety Glasses by Girl Power at Work ANZI 1+ Compliant
- Various Safety Glasses by Northern Safety
- Various prescription safety glasses options from RX safety
- Various options from CA Glasses
- Various welding goggle options from Charm and Hammer
SAFETY GLOVES:
- SeeHerWork Women’s Leather Work Gloves
- SeeHerWork Women’s Impact Work Gloves
- Girl Power at Work GP8-611 Mechanics Glove
- Various Brands of Safety Gloves at SafetyGirl
- Various Brands of Safety Gloves at Radians
- Women’s SteelWorker Welding Gloves
- Women’s MIG Stick Welding Gloves
Note: CPWR has not tested and does not endorse any specific equipment or product. Many factors influence the effectiveness of PPE including maintenance and training, the appropriateness of the PPE for the task, and manufacturer instructions/requirements.
Users may also find it helpful to view videos on the Safety Rack, a YouTube channel that posts reviews and experiences with PPE for women in construction. CPWR does not endorse this channel or its opinions.