Up to 250,000 women protected from ill-fitting PPE

EDF, JCB, BAE Systems and Bylor are among the companies who have signed up to GMB’s Inclusive PPE Charter.

Women’s Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is often men’s equipment shrunk to a smaller size – referred to as ‘shrink it and pink it’ – which doesn’t fit women’s bodies, is completely unfit for purpose and often dangerous.

As many as 70 per cent of women suffer from ill-fitting protective equipment, with tens of thousands feeling unsafe, embarrassed and scared at work, according to a GMB survey.

One woman custody officer said her ‘low rise pants that don’t work for a lot of women’s body shapes’ led to ‘prisoners making sexual comments about being able to see my underwear’.

At an event in Parliament today [Tuesday] MPs will get the chance to don the kind of ill-fitting clothing tens of thousands of women are forced to wear at work.

Lynsey Mann, GMB national health and safety officer, said: “Women having proper PPE that fits their bodies isn’t just a matter of respect – it can be a matter of life and death.

“These employers prove fit-to-form PPE isn’t just a possibility, it is already a reality in workplaces where safety is paramount.

“The next step is for other employers to get ahead of the inevitable curve and for our elected officials to embed inclusive PPE into procurement practices.

“Only then will our safety equipment standards reflect the diversity of our modern workforce and truly keep our members safe.”

Kirsteen Sullivan, MP for Bathgate and Linlithgow, said: “Whether its firefighters running into burning buildings, police officers responding to danger, or carers supporting the most vulnerable, nobody should face greater risk because their personal protective equipment was designed around a single, outdated body model.

“The GMB’s Fit For All campaign will put people at the heart of PPE.

“This is about safety, dignity, and basic fairness. There is real momentum building behind this and it’s time for change.”