In 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/) . One of the challenges facing women and non-binary people in the construction industry is finding personal protective equipment (PPE) that fits properly. This is a serious issue because PPE that does not fit properly will not adequately protect against occupational hazards and may increase the risk for illnesses, injuries, and death. 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.
Although OSHA Construction Standards for PPE do not currently require employers to ensure that the PPE provided fits each employee, doing so will ensure their employees, including women and non-binary workers, are protected. The following list of examples of commercially available PPE has been compiled to help employers and women in the trades find PPE that accommodates their anthropometry.
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
- 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 Types of Work Boots and Shoes at Xena
- Various Brands of Safety-Toe Work Boots and Shoes at Grainger
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
- MSA V-Series Full Body Harnesses 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
- High Vis FR Women’s Long Sleeve T-Shirt ANSI/ISEA 107 Type R Class 3
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:
- 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
- Various Safety Glasses by Girl Power at Work ANZI 1+ Compliant
- Various Safety Glasses by Northern Safety
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
MISCELLANEOUS:
Note: CPWR 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.