Industry Priorities

AGC-Autodesk PPE for Women Initiative

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. 

“One of the most effective ways to recruit women and men into high-paying construction careers is to make sure firms are able to provide safety equipment that fits. More broadly, we are seeking to encourage safety equipment manufacturers to provide gear in a wider range of sizes that accommodate workers of many different body types.”

- Jeffrey D. Shoaf, Chief Executive Officer, Associated General Contractors of America

PPE Recipients

A total of 290 PPE packages were provided to the following 43 firms:

  1. Absolute Caulking & Waterproofing Inc.  (Wheat Ridge, CO)
  2. ACI Asphalt & Concrete (Maple Grove, MN)
  3. American Contracting & Services Inc (Jeffersonville, IN)
  4. Archer Construction (Kent, WA)
  5. Benike Construction (Rochester, MN)
  6. Bodell Construction (Salt Lake City, UT)
  7. Bogatay Construction, Inc. (Klamath Falls, OR)     
  8. Brian's Carpet and Commercial Flooring  (West Palm Beach, FL)
  9. Buchanan Contracting Incorporated (Winchester, KY)
  10. Carmona Construction (Marysville, WA)
  11. CGI Development of NV LLC (Las Vegas, NV)
  12. Clark Construction Company (Lansing, MI)
  13. Clune Construction Company (Phoenix, AZ)
  14. Colvico, Inc. (Spokane, WA)
  15. Construction Solutions Company (Ammon, ID)
  16. Convergence Cabling, Inc. (Pflugerville, TX)
  17. Ditches Unlimited Inc. (Coeur d Alene, ID)
  18. EnviroVantage (Northwood, NH)
  19. EW Howell (Plainview, NY)
  20. Franz Witte Landscape Contracting, Inc. (Nampa, ID)
  21. GBC Construction, LLC (Corvallis, OR)
  22. Lake Erie Construction Co. (Norwalk, OH)
  23. Langston Construction Co. of Piedmont, LLC (Piedmont, SC)
  24. LCP, LLC (Aloha, OR)
  25. Leavenworth Excavating & Equipment Co., Inc (Leavenworth, KS)
  26. Martin Landscaping (Midland, NC)                          
  27. Massimino Building Corp (Newtown, PA)
  28. McGrath & Associates (St. Louis, MO)
  29. Nickell Company, LLC (Columbia, TN)
  30. Northbound Masonry (Stanwood, WA)
  31. Oakman Enterprises, Inc (Auburn, MA)
  32. Pinkard Construction Co. (Lakewood, CO)
  33. Power City Electric (Spokane, WA)
  34. Renfroe Construction Co., LLC (Macon, GA)
  35. Rickenbach Construction Inc. (Astoria, OR)
  36. Rolin Construction (Spanish Fort , AL)
  37. Simmons & Wood, Inc (Lakeside, CA)
  38. The Buildcor Group Inc. (Charlotte, NC)
  39. Thompson Solutions Group (Sioux City, IA)
  40. TOCCI (Woburn, MA)
  41. Turner Construction (San Antonio, TX)
  42. VMJR Companies (Glens Falls, NY)
  43. Weifield Group Contracting (Centennial, CO)

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

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