| In the United States the responsibility for health | | | | raised then have yet to be addressed |
| and safety issues in the workplace comes under | | | | satisfactorily. In regard to PPE the women |
| the remit of the United States Department of | | | | complained that there were few if any smaller |
| Labor, Occupational Safety and Health | | | | sizes available - considering the first point in the |
| Administration (OSHA). In the construction | | | | above list and indeed the second and the fourth |
| industry there is input provided by the Advisory | | | | points too, this complaint could easily be |
| Committee on Construction Safety and Health | | | | addressed if comfort and fit had been on the |
| (ACCSH), an independent committee that offers | | | | mind of the company buyer responsible for PPE. |
| an additional viewpoint to OSHA on construction | | | | Outsize clothing is in itself a hazard! Yet employers |
| safety issues. Usually when a risk assessment has | | | | felt they were meeting the industry standards |
| been done and it has been decided PPE is required | | | | and that the women were whining on 'fashion/fit' |
| for the workers little thought has gone into the | | | | grounds rather than on occupational safety. |
| following consideration: | | | | Clothing or equipment that is not sized, or does |
| · Is it suitable and appropriate for the | | | | not fit, properly can compromise personal safety. |
| risks involved and for the environment in which it | | | | It also may not function effectively in the manner |
| will be used? | | | | for which it was designed. The report stated that, |
| · Does it prevent or adequately control | | | | "Poor fit compromises the protection offered by |
| the risks involved without increasing the overall | | | | the garment or equipment. The lack of |
| level of risk? | | | | appropriate PPC and PPE can cause serious safety |
| · Has the state of health of those | | | | and health risks for women, and men of smaller |
| employees who will be wearing the PPE been | | | | sizes, who rely on protective clothing and |
| considered? | | | | equipment to help them keep safe. |
| · What are the needs of the job and the | | | | Having inadequate or ill-fitting clothing, boots, |
| demands it places on the wearer, for example | | | | gloves, or safety equipment presents a safety |
| restricted vision, the length of time the PPE needs | | | | hazard for any worker." It seems there has been |
| to be worn and the physical demands the PPE | | | | little effort to take into account the smaller |
| places on the wearer? | | | | physique of women and the dimensions for |
| · Can the appropriate level of training be | | | | safety workwear like ear, head, and face |
| provided when necessary? | | | | protection in women's sizes. Footwear and gloves |
| If these basic questions had been asked there | | | | were often inadequate or in appropriate for |
| would not have been the outcry twenty years | | | | female workers in construction, which may be |
| ago from many women in the construction | | | | due to unavailability (ie, manufacturers don't make |
| industry in the US, certainly the women of | | | | or distributors don't stock), limited availability, or |
| Chicago (CWIT - Chicago Women In Trades) and | | | | lack of knowledge among employers and workers |
| those women making their voices heard in NIOSH | | | | about where equipment designed for a woman's |
| (National Institute for Occupational Health and | | | | body structure can be obtained. It is not a good |
| Safety). Unfortunately, many of the issues they | | | | enough excuse. |