PPE for Women in Construction Initiative
"One size smaller" doesn't cut it.
The Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) is partnering with technology provider Autodesk to launch an initiative that addresses the need for proper-fitting personal protective equipment (PPE) for women in construction.
Proper-fitting PPE is essential for all workers, but the need for gender-specific PPE, especially for women, has been increasingly recognized. Historically, PPE has been designed with a one-size-fits-all approach, often based on the measurements of male workers. This can result in ill-fitting equipment for women, compromising both safety and comfort. Poorly fitting PPE, such as glasses, gloves, vests, helmets, and harnesses, can lead to increased risk of injury, reduced mobility, and decreased job performance. Women in construction require PPE that accounts for differences in body shape, size, and fit to ensure full protection.
In July 2024, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) initiated the rulemaking process to require employers to provide employees with proper-fitting PPE to protect them from occupational hazards. This move would align the construction, general industry, and maritime standards related to PPE and further emphasize the need for PPE that properly fits the variety of body types represented in construction while providing the intended protection.
To help address the need for proper-fitting PPE for women, Autodesk is partnering with AGC to provide contractor members with complimentary PPE designed/sized to provide a better fit for women. Each PPE package will contain glasses, gloves, and a vest.
AGC believes that one of the most effective ways to successfully recruit more women into high-paying construction careers is to make sure firms are able to provide safety equipment that keeps them even safer. We want to encourage our member firms to provide a wider range of safety equipment and continue to expand the diversity of our workforce.
Thank you for your interest. We have reached our application limit and are no longer accepting submissions at this time.
Program Contacts
Questions regarding this initiative should be direct to:
- Nazia Shah, Director of Safety & Health Services, (703) 837-5409, nazia.shah@agc.org
- Kevin Cannon, Senior Director, Safety, Health & Risk Management, (703) 837-5410, kevin.cannon@agc.org
Media Contacts
Media inquiries should be directed to:
- Brian Turmail, VP of Public Affairs & Strategic Initiatives, AGC, (703) 459-0238, brian.turmail@agc.org
- Andy Lopez, PR Manager, Autodesk, andy.lopez@autodesk.com
Resources
- Autodesk and AGC Join Forces to Deliver Proper-Fitting PPE for Women in Construction
- Spotlight on Women in the Construction Industry
- Women in Construction: Employment, Business Owner, and Injury Trends
- Recent Articles on PPE for Women
- OSHA Proposes New PPE Rule (July 2024)
- Women in construction still lack PPE that fits, survey shows (March 2024)
- Women's PPE in the Construction Industry is a Matter of Life and Death (January 2024)
- Safe at Work: Helping Women Protect Themselves (March 2023)
- PPE for Women
- CPWR Construction PPE for All Genders and Sizes
- Fall Protection Manufacturers with Equipment for Women (Source: ISEA)
- OSHA Women in Construction Webpage
- CPWR Women in the Trades Webpage
- The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC)