Women around the country — including many here in Colorado — have entered industries traditionally staffed by men. One of those industries is construction. The equipment and clothing provided to them needs to be properly fitted in order to prevent them from being injured at work.
Personal protective clothing (PPC) and personal protective equipment (PPE) that does not fit a woman’s body properly increases her risk of injury. Obviously, a woman’s body measurements are different from a man’s measurements. The makers of equipment and clothing designed to protect construction workers from on-the-job hazards have addressed this concern.
According to the International Safety Equipment Association (ISEA), PPCs and PPEs are available in a wide range of sizes for both men and women. If a woman’s employer does not provide her with properly fitted clothing and equipment, she has the right to request it from her employer. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends that employers maintain a list of suppliers that can provide properly fitting PPCs and PPEs for women.
If a Colorado company fails to provide the appropriate protection and a woman is injured at work, she may receive workers’ compensation benefits to cover the costs of her medical care and related expenses. Further, she may also be entitled to compensation for any wages lost during her recovery. Depending on the severity of the injury, it may not be possible to return to work for an extended period of time, if at all. Additional benefits may be available under these circumstances. Moreover, a woman’s family may be entitled to death benefits if the injuries are fatal.
Source: osha.gov, “Women in Construction: Personal Protective Equipment“, Accessed on March 27, 2015
