Today, on Women’s Equality Day, we are reminded that equality isn’t just about access to opportunity; it’s about creating an environment where everyone can thrive. In construction, one of the most overlooked yet critical aspects of equality is ensuring that personal protective equipment (PPE) fits properly for women.
For decades, job site safety gear, including helmets, harnesses, gloves, boots, and high-visibility vests, has been designed with the average male worker in mind. Women in construction often find themselves forced to wear oversized or ill-fitting PPE, which does more than create discomfort. It introduces real safety risks: loose gloves that compromise grip, hard hats that slip, harnesses that don’t secure properly, and boots that reduce stability.
The consequences are serious. Ill-fitting PPE can lead to:
- Increased likelihood of slips, trips, and falls
- Reduced productivity from constant adjustments or discomfort
- Lower confidence and sense of belonging on-site
At a time when the construction industry is striving to attract and retain more women, ensuring properly fitting PPE is not a luxury; it’s a necessity. True equality means not expecting women to adapt to equipment that wasn’t designed for them. It means demanding that manufacturers, safety managers, and project leaders prioritize inclusivity in safety gear just as they prioritize quality and performance.
As we reflect on Women’s Equality Day, let’s recognize that equality isn’t symbolic; it’s practical. It shows up in the everyday details that make our jobs safer and our teams stronger. By advocating for properly-fitting PPE, we are sending a clear message: safety belongs to everyone.
At CSM Group, we believe that building smarter, safer projects starts with taking care of people first. That means challenging the industry to raise the standard of safety, not just for some, but for all.
