Imagine starting your workday knowing your workwear fits perfectly. No adjustments needed. Now imagine it not only fits - but aligns with your identity too. This is a scenario we take for granted in gender-balanced and fashion-sensitive industries such as hotel, travel, or aviation.
But for thousands of women, especially those in male-dominated industries like engineering and construction that requires technical workwear and PPE, this is still a dream.
The Women’s Engineering Society (WES) say that only 26% of women find their PPE comfortable or a perfect fit.
But in these industries comfort is half the story. It’s also about safety because ill-fitting PPE can lead to serious risks on the job.
The WES has highlighted the ongoing neglect of women's safety needs in PPE provision. Their survey revealed that women are being ignored when it comes to providing safe and effective PPE, resulting in dangerous working practices and a lack of equality within the workplace.
The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has long advocated for gender-specific PPE, pointing out that poorly fitting equipment can significantly hinder women's work. Research by the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) found that nearly 60% of employers in the construction industry don't provide women-specific PPE.
This lack of inclusive PPE not only affects safety but impacts women's morale and career progression. Emma Hardy, MP for Kingston upon Hull West and Hessle said women “are not just smaller men,” and suggested the law should encourage PPE for workplaces “to be designed with female anatomy in mind.”
But there’s hope on the horizon. And I’m lucky enough to be at the forefront of the solution.
When I moved from the retail fashion industry to Tower, I immediately recognised the potential FireBear had to make a real change for women in all the industries that use FR & Arc flash PPE.
As Head of Category Management, I have helped to develop FireBear so that it wouldn’t just cater for women, it would work for women to ensure they are represented, safe, and happy.
This is real progress. And it’s what drives me every day to succeed in what I do.
I love that FireBear doesn’t just keep up with the times. It sets the pace. Our brand of FR & Arc workwear is a shining example of Tower’s commitment to innovation. By ensuring that women were integral to the design process, we've created PPE from the ground up with countless garment considerations and features built around the female body and their preferences.
This isn't just a morale booster. It's a game-changer for wellbeing, safety, and productivity.
An occupational safety advisor at SSE (who use FireBear every day) once turned round to me and said: “women feel a true sense of belonging and confidence when they wear FireBear.”
This feeling should be a given in every industry. I am still surprised that there is not stronger regulation around providing proper women’s PPE. I am siding with Emma Hardy on this one and calling for tougher laws around how PPE is provided and designed. We need to ensure we don’t put anything in the way of both women’s safety and their sense of identity in the workplace.
I’m proud to be working with FireBear and the female engineers and designers who make it the workwear brand it is today.
If you supply or buy workwear for your female workforce, then help ensure they are fully represented with FireBear. Ask for a quote today.
Highly driven, ambitious, and able to leverage vast experience in the retail industry. Skills include product development, negotiation, people management, presentations and building successful relationships.
