Why Women Require Appropriate Personal Protective Equipment in the Maritime Industry
The maritime industry has traditionally been dominated by men, but recent years have seen an increase in the number of women working at sea, particularly in the cruise ship and offshore sectors. However, as more women enter this field, it has become evident that one crucial aspect of workplace safety—Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)—has not kept pace with the changing workforce demographics. The majority of PPE available today is designed based on male body types, often overlooking the specific needs of women. This lack of appropriate PPE not only affects women’s comfort but also raises significant safety concerns.
This blog post delves into why it is vital for women in the maritime industry to have access to PPE that is specifically designed for their bodies, citing insights from a 2020 CHIRP Maritime report on the issue.
The Challenges of Ill-Fitting PPE for Women
One of the central issues female mariners face is the lack of properly fitting PPE. The CHIRP Maritime report, based on a survey of female seafarers, highlights several key concerns related to PPE designed for men and the resulting safety risks when women are forced to wear ill-fitting gear. Let’s explore the specific challenges:
1. Footwear
A typical woman’s foot is both shorter and narrower than a man’s, which creates significant problems when women are provided with smaller-sized men’s boots. Even if the length of the boot is correct, the width can still be too large, leading to a poor fit. Over-sized boots can cause discomfort, reduce mobility, and increase the risk of slips and falls—a significant hazard on a moving ship. As one respondent to the CHIRP survey stated, the smallest available fire safety boots onboard were size 10, whereas their feet were a size 4. This mismatch in sizing severely hindered their ability to perform emergency duties.
2. Protective Eyewear
A woman’s face is generally smaller and more refined than a man’s, making it difficult to achieve a proper fit with standard safety goggles designed for men. Ill-fitting eye protection leaves gaps, especially around the temples, which can allow foreign objects or debris to enter, reducing the protective effectiveness of the equipment. In a hazardous maritime environment, where exposure to chemicals, dust, or mechanical debris is common, this oversight can be particularly dangerous.
3. Gloves
The average woman has shorter, narrower fingers and a smaller palm circumference compared to men. Gloves designed for men are often too large for women, reducing dexterity and increasing the likelihood of catching or entrapment when handling tools or machinery. Properly fitted gloves are essential for performing tasks efficiently and safely, especially in environments where quick, precise movements are required.
4. Safety Harnesses
Safety harnesses are critical for protecting workers from falls, particularly when working at heights or on elevated platforms. However, improperly sized harnesses can be a serious safety hazard. For women, harnesses designed for men can hinder movement, be uncomfortable, or even fail to function as intended in the event of a fall. A harness that doesn’t fit securely could lead to life-threatening injuries if it fails during use.
5. Hard Hats
Hard hats are a basic yet essential piece of PPE in the maritime industry, offering protection from falling objects or head injuries. However, if a hard hat is too large, it may shift or slip over the wearer’s eyes, obstructing vision and creating a new safety risk. For women, this issue can be common when forced to wear helmets designed for men.
6. General Comfort and Compliance
As the CHIRP Maritime report points out, women who are unable to find properly fitting and comfortable PPE are less likely to wear it consistently, putting themselves at increased risk of injury. Discomfort in PPE can also serve as a distraction, reducing focus and attention to tasks at hand, which can further exacerbate the risks of accidents or injuries.
Real-World Experiences from Female Mariners
The CHIRP Maritime report includes insights from female seafarers, many of whom expressed frustrations over the lack of appropriate PPE available to them. One respondent, a female deckhand, shared that the trousers, shirts, overalls, and coats provided to her were all designed for men, making them excessively large and uncomfortable. She was forced to use safety pins to modify the fit of her clothing to avoid it getting caught in machinery—an improvisation that should never be necessary in a safety-conscious industry.
Another respondent, a serving chief officer, explained that oversized boiler suits and high-visibility jackets presented serious hazards, as excess material could easily snag on parts of the ship. The respondent also mentioned the issue of oversized fire suits, which are crucial in emergency situations but could hinder mobility and effectiveness due to poor fit.
These firsthand accounts demonstrate how ill-fitting PPE not only compromises safety but also impacts women’s ability to perform their duties effectively.
The Impact on Safety and Inclusion
Beyond the physical discomfort and increased safety risks, the lack of appropriate PPE for women in the maritime industry has broader implications. It highlights a systemic issue of gender inequality in the workplace, where women’s needs are overlooked, making them feel excluded and unsupported. As the CHIRP Maritime report argues, employers who fail to provide suitable PPE for women are not treating them as equals, which undermines efforts to create inclusive and diverse workplaces.
Moreover, the lack of appropriate PPE may discourage women from pursuing or continuing careers in the maritime industry. In a field where safety is paramount, the inability to access properly fitting gear sends the message that the industry is not fully prepared to accommodate women, despite their growing presence in the workforce.
The Need for Change
The maritime industry prides itself on its commitment to safety, yet the failure to provide women with properly fitting PPE contradicts this claim. As the CHIRP Maritime report points out, safety standards mandate that PPE must fit correctly after any necessary adjustments and take ergonomic requirements into account. Ill-fitting PPE not only diminishes the protection offered but can also introduce new risks, particularly for women.
Fortunately, the solutions to this problem are within reach. Female-specific PPE is already available on the market, and several manufacturers offer BS, EN, and ISO-compliant equipment tailored to women’s needs. However, the challenge lies in raising awareness and ensuring that these products become standard in the procurement processes of maritime companies.
Conclusion
Women in the maritime industry face significant challenges when it comes to accessing properly fitting PPE. The equipment currently provided is often designed for male body types, creating discomfort, reducing effectiveness, and increasing the risk of injury. As the CHIRP Maritime report underscores, these issues have been largely ignored by the industry, but with more women entering the field, it is time for employers to address this gap.
By providing women with PPE that fits their bodies correctly, the maritime industry can not only enhance safety but also foster a more inclusive and supportive environment for all workers. This change will require commitment from employers, procurement departments, and PPE manufacturers, but the benefits—improved safety, worker satisfaction, and a more diverse workforce—are well worth the effort.
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