A woman wearing a helmet, PPE goggles, hi-vis jacket and protective gloves

Why Well-Fitted PPE Clothing is Essential For Women On-Site

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is a crucial aspect of workplace safety for both men and women. However, when it comes to women's PPE clothing, there are often unique challenges that need to be addressed. Ill-fitted PPE clothing can lead to injury, reduced mobility, discomfort, chafing, and heat stress, making it essential to prioritise well-fitted PPE clothing for women on work sites. In this blog, we will explore why well-fitted PPE clothing is essential for women as it can prevent injuries and improve work quality.

The Challenge: Finding Appropriately Fitted Women’s PPE Clothing

One of the most significant challenges women face on-site is finding PPE clothing that fits their body shape. PPE clothing is often designed for male body shapes, which can cause discomfort and hinder mobility. According to a recent survey , 94% of female respondents reported that they have encountered PPE that is designed for men and not women.

Preventing Injury

Ill-fitted PPE clothing can increase the risk of injury on-site. For instance, loose clothing can get caught in machinery or equipment, leading to serious injuries. Similarly, ill-fitted safety shoes or boots can cause slips, trips, and falls, which can result in injuries. By providing well-fitted PPE clothing to women on-site, the risk of injury can be significantly reduced.

At Highland Industrial Supplies, we provide a range of PPE clothing tailored to women, to ensure they are safe and protected while on the job. For example, these Otter safety boots come in an array of sizes to fit both men and women comfortably. A heel pull tab makes the boots easy to get on, and an anti-slip heel lining will keep feet in place. This style of boot benefits from a Dual Comfort shock-absorbing footbed and new STS rugged sole — working hard to prevent any injuries.

Well-Fitted PPE Clothing Reduces Discomfort

Wearing PPE clothing that does not fit well can be uncomfortable, leading to reduced productivity and work quality. Uncomfortable PPE clothing seems to be a real issue within the workplace, as 85% of women have reported discomfort when wearing PPE which has impacted their performance at work. Women may feel constricted, leading to difficulty in performing their tasks. Similarly, PPE clothing that is too loose can cause irritation and chafing, leading to reduced work quality due to frustration.

Providing well-fitted PPE clothing to women on-site can help reduce discomfort, leading to improved work quality and productivity.

Improved Mobility in Well-Fitted PPE Clothing for Women

PPE clothing that fits well can help improve mobility, allowing women to move around freely and perform their tasks with ease. Ill-fitted clothing can restrict movement, making it challenging to perform tasks efficiently. When looking for women’s PPE clothing, it’s important to check the features will benefit movement and comfort. For example, these Hi-Vis women’s stretch work trousers use high-performance two-way stretch fabric to give a maximum range of movement when working. With side elastic waist for ultimate wearer comfort and an adjustable hem to accommodate all leg lengths, this type of women’s PPE wear ensures a sensible fit and maximum comfort for the wearer to help improve the quality of work.

According to a study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, workers wearing poorly fitting PPE gloves experienced a 71% reduction in grip strength. It is therefore essential that well-fitted PPE gloves are provided for both men and women in the workplace in order to maintain grip and security when conducting physical tasks.

Reduce Heat Stress with Quality PPE Clothing

Women who work in industries that require PPE clothing may be at risk of heat stress, particularly in warm weather. Wearing well-fitted PPE clothing can reduce heat stress by allowing the body to cool down more efficiently. When PPE clothing is ill-fitted, it can trap heat close to the skin and prevent air circulation, causing the body to overheat. This can be especially dangerous in hot and humid environments, especially during the summer months.

Well-fitted PPE clothing, on the other hand, allows for air circulation and reduces heat buildup. PPE clothing that is designed with breathable fabrics and features like ventilation can also help to reduce heat stress. Stihl Advance X-Light Trousers make use of advanced AVERTIC™ protective material, which is ultra-light and extremely breathable, which helps reduce the risk of heat stress.

It is important to note that workers should also take other precautions to prevent heat stress, such as staying hydrated, taking regular breaks in a cool area, and monitoring their own symptoms. However, wearing well-fitted PPE clothing is an important part of preventing heat stress and promoting worker safety in hot environments.

Are You Looking for Women’s PPE Clothing?

At Highland Industrial Supplies, we understand the importance of providing well-fitted PPE clothing to women on work sites. By providing well-fitted PPE clothing, workers can perform their tasks efficiently, improve productivity, and reduce the risk of injury. We offer a wide range of women's PPE clothing, including safety boots, gloves and hi-vis clothing Our products are designed to fit all body shapes, ensuring maximum comfort and safety.

Visit us in-store or browse our range of PPE clothing and accessories online. Looking for advice about PPE? Contact us and our experts will be happy to chat with you.

Terms and Conditions

Phone Number: 01463 239 160

Fax Number: 01463 233 424

We are happy to take orders via Fax or email. We are happy to take orders from Local Government, Schools, Colleges and Charities. Just fax or email your order to us and we will contact you to arrange payment. We can supply pre-sale invoices for your Purchase Orders.

CHEQUES. You may also pay by cheque. Cheque should be made out to "Highland Industrial Supplies Ltd". You should allow 7 working days for cheques to clear, after which the goods will be dispatched (subject to stock availability).

You have the right to cancel an order which is not built to special requirements. Please return the items to us within 28 days from the date they were received. Your delivery will contain a retuns slip, please complete this indicating if you require a refund or replacement. Goods must be returned in an unused state, and with their original packaging. The customer should obtain proof of postage or send goods via recorded delivery. The consumer is liable to pay for the cost of returning the goods to ourselves.

Making a Purchase

Making a purchase could not be easier. Just browse our Catalogue, and click on any items that you wish to buy and put them into the shopping cart. After you have finished your selection, click on "Order" and you will be asked for a few details that we need to be able to satisfy the order.

CREDIT CARDS: We accept Visa, MasterCard, Delta, Switch and Solo cards.

Collect in Store

You can choose to collect your order from one of our depots rather than having us deliver your items to you. If you select this option in the checkout, our customer service department will contact you when your order is ready for collection. In the checkout, simply select one of the following depots which is the most convenient for you.

Inverness Elgin Turriff Dundee Perth Fort William Kirkwall

Shipping and Handling

We recommend that goods should be inspected before they are signed for, as goods obviously damaged in transit should be REFUSED. You must notify us as soon as possible and ideally within 24 hours if at all possible, if your goods are subsequently found to be damaged.

If you buy more than one item you will only incur a single delivery charge. You will be charged the highest delivery charge relating to your order.

For example: if you buy 3 items each with a delivery charge of £6.95 then you will incur a single payment of £6.95 (not 3 x £6.95!). If however, you buy 2 items each with a delivery charge of £6.95 and 1 item with a delivery charge of £10.95 then you will pay a single delivery charge of £10.95 for the total order.

Please note that all goods must be signed for on delivery. If you are not at home when your order is delivered, a card will be posted through your door with details regarding collection/re-delivery.

Guarantee

In additional to your legal rights relating to faulty or misdescribed goods, all products come with manufacturer's warranty of between 1 and 5 years. In the unlikely event that your purchase develops a fault within the warranty period, HIS Ltd will refer you to your local dealership where the product will be examined by their qualified technicians and repaired as per the warranty details.

Returns Policy

At HIS Ltd we DO NOT operate a "Try & Return" policy. Faulty goods should be notified to us within 3 working days. If the option of taking them to a local dealership is not available then faulty goods should be returned to our head office. We can arrange courier collection at your cost. For Non-Faulty goods, please inform us within 14 days of receipt of your intention to return them. We must then receive them back within the following 14 days. (Excluding special order items).

All items must be returned in the same condition they were received.

Ordering

An online order through this website constitutes an offer to purchase the item(s) specified by you and does not constitute acceptance of your offer to purchase from us. Your purchase request will be reviewed by a member of our staff and you will be advised when the order has been accepted, normally within 12 hours of your offer. An unsuccessful purchase request will result in a full refund of any monies paid by you to HIS Ltd.