LMC Insurance & Risk Management
  • About Us
    • Leadership
    • Wisconsin Office
    • Accessibility
  • For Business
    • Property Casualty
    • Employee Benefits >
      • Iowa Health Insurance Pool
      • Share to Compare
    • Financial Services
    • Surety Bonds
    • Risk Management
    • Cyber Security
    • Executive and Owner Risk Management
  • Industries
    • Construction
    • Healthcare
    • Higher Education and Nonprofits
    • Hospitality
    • Manufacturing
    • Petroleum
  • Personal
  • Contact Us
    • Report A Claim
    • Iowa
    • Wisconsin
  • Careers
    • Open Positions
  • Online Tools
  • Blog
  • About Us
    • Leadership
    • Wisconsin Office
    • Accessibility
  • For Business
    • Property Casualty
    • Employee Benefits >
      • Iowa Health Insurance Pool
      • Share to Compare
    • Financial Services
    • Surety Bonds
    • Risk Management
    • Cyber Security
    • Executive and Owner Risk Management
  • Industries
    • Construction
    • Healthcare
    • Higher Education and Nonprofits
    • Hospitality
    • Manufacturing
    • Petroleum
  • Personal
  • Contact Us
    • Report A Claim
    • Iowa
    • Wisconsin
  • Careers
    • Open Positions
  • Online Tools
  • Blog

Welcome to the LMC Blog

Does your safety equipment fit the women on your team?

7/15/2019

 
Does your safety equipment fit the women on your team?
Perhaps you remember the embarrassing scenario for NASA in early 2019, when the space agency was forced to cancel its first-ever all-woman spacewalk because they didn't have two suits on the International Space Station that fit them.
​
While most people were shocked, women in professions that require them to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) know the challenges they face in getting equipment that fits properly.

The problem has really come to the fore as more and more women enter professions that have traditionally been jobs that men gravitate towards. For example, nearly 10% of construction jobs in the U.S. are now held by women.
It's not uncommon for women in those types of work to have to use equipment that is made for men, forcing them to don overalls, gloves, vests, footwear, and more that are too large.

If you have jobs that require specialized protective equipment, make sure you have items in sizes for all workers. Consider your needs for:
  • Safety glasses
  • Hard hats
  • Protective shoes
  • Coveralls
  • Safety harnesses
  • Safety gloves
  • Ear plugs

The right fit is imperative because loose-fitting items can lead to accidents that cause injuries or worse, especially if loose coveralls get caught in machinery.

Never suggest that your female workers to take shortcuts, like rolling up sleeves or pant legs that are too long. If they are rolled up, there may not be adequate protection.

Apply standards uniformly

To make sure that you have equipment that fits all of your workers:
  • First talk to your employees and ask them to give honest assessments of how the PPE they have been issued fits.
  • Don't ask women to wear equipment that is too large. It can create a safety hazard and may not protect them properly.
  • Don't alter equipment yourself. Safety equipment is manufactured to provide safety if it fits properly. Altering the equipment can make it unsafe and noncompliant with safety standards.
  • Don't criticize, ignore or retaliate against employees who report ill-fitting PPE.
  • When selecting safety equipment, consult with your employees to make sure you order items that will fit them.
  • Provide the same range of sizes for women as for men and ensure that suppliers have properly assessed the appropriateness of their equipment to women and men.
  • Require your workers to try on different sizes of equipment before choosing the ones that fit best.
 

Comments are closed.
    We're here to help.
    ​1-800-677-1529
    ​
    Email Us
    Follow @lmc_insurance

    Categories

    All
    Compliance
    Construction
    COVID 19
    COVID-19
    Cyber Security
    Directors And Officers
    Employee Benefits
    Executive Benefits
    Healthcare
    Higher Education
    Human Resources
    Manufacturing
    News
    Personal Insurance
    Property And Casualty
    Risk Management
    Wellness
    Workers Compensation

    Archives

    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017

    While every effort has been taken in compiling this information to ensure that its contents are totally accurate, neither the publisher nor the author can accept liability for any inaccuracies or change circumstances of any information herein or for the consequences of any reliance placed upon it. This publication is distributed on the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional advice or services. Readers should always seek professional advice before entering into any commitments.
LMC Insurance & Risk Management
​About   |   Blog   |   Contact

Iowa
4200 University Ave, Suite 200 
West Des Moines, IA 50266-5945
Wisconsin
8500 Greenway Blvd., Suite 201
​Middleton, WI 53562
 © 2021 LMC Insurance & Risk Management. All rights reserved. Privacy policy.