Page 38 - IOSH JanFeb24_Full LR

PRACTICE

EXPLORE SKILLS, IDEAS AND THEORIES

What

next for

PPE?

Technological advances and workforce changes
are evolving personal protective equipment [PPE]

WORDS DOUGLAS BROOM

WORDS DOUGLAS BROOM employer at the time didn’t provide me
hen it comes to workplace

safety, PPE has long been with suitably fitting PPE. I was 17 so didn’t

recognised as a minor but feel confident at the time to push back,’
W critical element of the she says. ‘My college ended up purchasing
picture. But as workplaces become more boots, trousers and gloves for me that

diverse, the traditional one-size-fits-all fitted properly.
approach is no longer tenable. ‘I needed size six gloves when the

Many items are clearly designed to fit smallest they had were size seven; I had to
the average male, resulting in a poor fit turn trousers up and they were so baggy. I

for women and people whose body shape was having to compromise my health and

differs from the male stereotype. safety,’ adds Bethany, who was voted one
It’s an issue that frustrates Bethany of the National Federation of Builders’

Holroyd CMIOSH, health and safety Top 100 Most Influential Women in the
business partner for the local government Construction Industry in 2023.

practice of global engineering firm WSP. She says PPE that’s not designed to fit ILLUSTRATION: ISTOCK

‘When I started out as an apprentice, my women is ‘a fundamental problem when
38 JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2024 | IOSHMAGAZINE.COM

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