Women aren't smaller sized men...

One size does not fit all.

Are women’s lives at risk due to ill-fitting PPE?

While I was working for a supplier of PPE, one of our customers had a special request.

They had just purchased new Hi-Vis Multi-Norm Jackets for their workers but received complaints from the female workers that the jackets were too big.

Little did I know that this would be the start of a very long and arduous journey.

I ordered various jackets in size “S” and had them sent to the office.

When I tried them on, I felt as if I were a little girl playing dress-up in my dad’s construction clothes. The jackets were massive! Cumbersome and generally very uncomfortable. I could not imagine wearing this jacket for 30 minutes, alone 8 hours a day.

I then searched for Multi-Norm Jackets in size XS, which proved even more difficult. I eventually found a model which satisfied the client.

According to the Swiss Federal Statistical Office, women made up just over 50% of the Swiss Population in 2020, yet the number of women working in the STEM industries is still meager. A lack of proper PPE for women could be one reason why women stay away from sectors such as construction or industrial production.

PPE is primarily designed for men, and many women are thus forced to wear ill-fitting PPE, which then does not do as its name suggests – it does not protect. The equipment designed to protect becomes a hazard.

This was especially visible during the Covid Pandemic. Protective masks were too big, thus not providing an adequate fit, face shields were pressing against breasts, gowns were too long, and goggles were slipping off faces.

PPE for women

Head protection

Construction helmets that are too large may slip over the eyes, causing discomfort and danger. They may even fall off the head entirely. Look for helmets that are made for smaller heads. A chinstrap may also offer a better fit. Also – the helmet doesn’t have to be pink.

Eye protection

Women’s heads tend to be smaller and narrower than men’s, so you should look for glasses that cater to smaller heads. If the glasses are too big, there is an increased risk of particles entering the eye.

Respiratory equipment

FFP Masks only offer optimal protection when they fit. Masks that do not fit the face increase the risk that hazardous products contaminate your body. Look for masks that provide a smaller size and, therefore, better fit and increased protection.

Hearing protection

Women tend to have smaller ear canals, so the pre-moulded earplugs prove to be very uncomfortable with an increase in leakage – exposing women to dangerous noise levels that will permanently damage their hearing.

Look for earplugs that offer a smaller size or, better yet, invest in custom-moulded earplugs (I have a pair from Cotral, and I absolutely love them!)

Clothing

Narrower shoulders, smaller waists, larger breasts, and broader hips mean that male clothing (even in a smaller size) is not designed to fit women at all. Look for companies that offer a female fit. Try to arrange a fitting so that workers can find the right size before purchasing.

Shoes

Wearing too big shoes makes it challenging to move and can cause long-term damage to your joints and back, yet many shoes only start from EU Size 39. Look for shoe producers who offer shoes from size 35 and are also made for narrower feet.

Fall protection

I can give you two reasons why standard fall protection is super uncomfortable for women…

Look for fall protection which offers shoulder straps towards the side and offer hip support.

Luckily the world of PPE is changing (even if it did take a pandemic to speed up the process), and there is a lot more PPE being designed for the female shape, yet many manufacturers still need to learn two things:

Women are not “little men.”
Not all women want to wear pink PPE.