{"id":455,"date":"2019-07-23T06:43:39","date_gmt":"2019-07-23T12:43:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cowestdtc.com\/?p=455"},"modified":"2019-08-19T10:54:18","modified_gmt":"2019-08-19T16:54:18","slug":"safety-and-health-considerations-for-women-at-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cowestdtc.com\/safety-and-health-considerations-for-women-at-work\/","title":{"rendered":"Safety and Health Considerations for Women at Work"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In these times of #MeToo, employers are (or should be) very aware of the potential dangers of sexual harassment of women on the job, whether from misconduct directed at a particular woman or general \u201cguys will be guys\u201d comments. This type of behavior can make women feel vulnerable and unsafe in the workplace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But according to EMC Senior Industrial Hygienist Kelsie Boorn, the dangers and problems women face in the workplace\u2014particularly in male-dominated fields such as manufacturing and construction\u2014cover much more ground. And some of these are physical dangers that should also be taken very seriously. Personal Protective Equipment. As Kelsie visits EMC-insured companies and works with workplace ergonomics, she notices that many workplaces are not designed and set up for a woman\u2019s stature. \u201cTo make it personal, I\u2019ve been in situations where putting on a reflective vest is a necessity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ufeffA supervisor on the site will hand me one, and inevitably, it hangs down to my knees,\u201d she says. And while an overly large vest is manageable for her while walking in the building, other PPE sizing issues<\/a> are much more hazardous. Ill-fitting hearing protection, respiratory masks or hard hats can cause serious, even life-threatening injury. And while it\u2019s possible to purchase woman-sized apparel, some companies don\u2019t take the initiative to do so, assuming a man\u2019s size small is close enough. In fact, a 2017 study found that only three in 10 women are given PPE designed for women.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women\u2019s Health. As Kelsie visits companies, the questions most often asked by women are about pregnancy. \u201cThey are concerned about the effect of chemicals on reproductive health and pregnancy, or how equipment designed for men might damage a fetus or reproductive organs,\u201d she says. In addition, sanitary restroom facilities, especially on construction sites, can be a problem. She notes that there are job sites where women must leave the site to find a public restroom. Another issue raised by women is pumping breastmilk in a sanitary facility. She says many companies do provide space for this vital function but others don\u2019t, so women may have no option but to use a restroom or go to their car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Women
Women on the job<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What Can You Do?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n