Women's PPE

We are passionate about the inclusive PPE movement, and ensuring that we address the widespread inequalities in PPE provision for minority groups, across the construction industry, and beyond.

The NAWIC Yorkshire Women's PPE campaign aims to raise awareness of the women's personal protective equipment that is available on the market. 59.6% of women are having to wear PPE that is designed for men (NAWIC Yorkshire, 2023), which has a number of impacts on self-confidence, perceived professionalism, as well as health and safety hazards, despite the products being available on the market.

Behind the scenes, we are in communication with a number of industry-leading organisations and construction frameworks to encourage them to change their codes of conduct, spread awareness, and raise their minimum standards of H&S assessment to enforce companies to take action on the provision for women's PPE. In addition to this, we are targeting individual work-wear retailers and builder's merchants to encourage them to make inclusive PPE available in their stores.

We have also created a number of resources to inform and raise awareness on the issue:

Women's PPE in the Construction Industry Report

CIOB's PPE Directory

Women's PPE Handbook

Local Council Motion Letter Template

SHP's Inclusive PPE Charter

Case Studies of Good Practice

As part of our ongoing Women's PPE Campaign, we are compiling case studies of good practice, as a way for people and companies to learn about the provision that should be made for women's PPE, and showcasing the companies that are doing it best, whether that be contractors, consultants, government bodies, suppliers or frameworks.

News & Updates

Webinar: Construction Management

9th July 2024

NAWIC Yorkshire's Campaign Manager, Katy Robinson, was invited to speak at a Construction Management webinar, alongside UVEX, CIOB People and Bold as Brass, "How to Provide PPE that Fits"

Inclusive PPE Charter Launched

25th June 2024

SHP launched their PPE charter, for organisations to pledge to achieve the 5 commitments, to ensure that their workforce is provided with inclusive and well-fitting PPE.

https://www.shponline.co.uk/inclusive-ppe-charter/

British Standards Committee Launched for Inclusive PPE

The British Standards Institute launched their committee for developing standards and guidance for inclusive personal protective equipment.

NAWIC Yorkshire's Campaign Manager, Katy Robinson, was invited to join as a founding member, alongside a number of other campaigners.

CIOB Webinar: #PPEthatfits, an Update by Katy Robinson

30th May 2024

NAWIC Yorkshire's Campaign Manager, Katy Robinson, and the Chartered Institute of Building held a webinar on an update to the #PPEthatfits campaign.

UKREiiF Fringe Event

22nd May 2024

NAWIC Yorkshire and Leeds College of Building held a UKREiiF Fringe Event; a seminar on Inclusive PPE.

Webinar: Institute of Civil Engineers

17th May 2024

NAWIC Yorkshire and the Institute of Civil Engineers collaborated on a webinar on the Inclusive PPE Campaign.

APSE Webinar: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

17th May 2024

NAWIC Yorkshire Campaign Manager, Katy Robinson, was invited to speak at the APSE Equality, Diversity and Inclusion online seminar.

NACF & LGA Conference

8th May 2024

NAWIC Yorkshire Campaign Manager, Katy Robinson, was invited to speak about implementing inclusive PPE into the supply chain, at the LGA & NACF Conference in Leeds.

International PPE Campaign Launched #MyBodyMyPPE

29th April 2024

The #MyBodyMyPPE campaign aims to spotlight the issues with ill-fitting PPE by empowering women across various industries to share their experiences on social media.

https://mybodymyppe.org/

WES PPE Survey Results Released

24th April 2024

The Women's Engineering Society recently published their research findings, highlighting and evidencing issues with PPE for women across a number of engineering industries.

https://www.wes.org.uk/ppe/

YORcivil Seminar

16th April 2024

NAWIC Yorkshire Campaign Manager, Katy Robinson held a webinar with the YORcivil framework on inclusive PPE.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award at the CIOB Awards 2024

9th April 2024

NAWIC Yorkshire Campaign Manager, Katy Robinson received the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Award at the CIOB awards, for her dedication to the PPE Campaign.

https://ciobpeople.com/ciob-awards-2024-winners-announced/

Webinar: The PPE Campaign

27th March 2024

NAWIC Yorkshire and the Civil Engineering Contractors Association collaborated on a webinar on the Inclusive PPE Campaign.

Sandwell Council Passes Inclusive PPE Motion

19th March 2024

Sandwell Council voted to urge the Government to address the widespread inequalities in PPE provision and design for minority groups.

Inclusive PPE Supported by Government in House of Commons Debate

12th March 2024

Emma Hardy MP raised the topic of Inclusive PPE in an adjournment debate in Parliament, securing support from the relevant minister.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ppe-labour-mims-davies-work-government-b2511618.html

RICS International Women's Day Event

8th March 2024

NAWIC Yorkshire Campaign Manager was invited to speak on a panel at the RICS International Women's Day event in London.

Article: How women are put in danger by the equipment that’s meant to protect them

8th March 2024

NAWIC Yorkshire Campaign Manager collaborated with the Institution of Civil Engineers to publish an article about ill-fitting PPE.

https://www.ice.org.uk/news-insight/news-and-blogs/ice-blogs/ice-community-blog/women-in-danger-by-equipment-meant-to-protect-them

Webinar: Breaking Physical Barriers to Inclusivity

7th March 2024

Energy UK hosted a panel webinar on the topic of 'Breaking Physical Barriers to Inclusivity' including PPE campaigners Katy Robinson and Katherine Evans.

https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/play/YAhYjfk2FqV7HSJqTYUDamCbTtHgc12g8vhOdkYor5oipbbsuVmGyKKej7JEoDyiRTp7c8WRwqSqJsyZ.MLfr7mN1I00E175-?autoplay=true&startTime=1709802011000

Seminar: Why Inclusive PPE Matters with Constructing Excellence and Addleshaw Goddard

6th March 2024

NAWIC Yorkshire, Constructing Excellence and Addleshaw Goddard hosted a seminar on the topic of "Why Inclusive PPE Matters".

ITV News Features the PPE Campaign

5th March 2024

ITV News featured the PPE campaign, including an interview with our Campaign Manager, Katy Robinson.

The clip can be found on the Campaign Instagram: @thePPEcampaign.

Webinar & Seminar: Diversity in PPE with CIHT, RSK Group and Arco

4th March 2024

NAWIC Yorkshire and the Chartered Institute of Highways and Transportation hosted a webinar and a seminar with RSK Group and Arco on the topic of Diversity in PPE.

East Riding of Yorkshire Council Passes Inclusive PPE Motion

21st February 2024

East Riding of Yorkshire Council voted to urge the Government to address the widespread inequalities in PPE provision and design for minority groups.

https://www.eastriding.gov.uk/news/article/?entry=65d5c31e3a14a4cd2fb9d3db

Webinar: Inclusive PPE with CICES Women's Network

21st February 2024

NAWIC Yorkshire and the Chartered Institution of Civil Engineering Surveyors collaborated on a webinar on Inclusive PPE.

SHP Launches Inclusive PPE Campaign

15th February 2024

SHP - Health and Safety News, have launched 'Protection for Everyone' their campaign for inclusive personal protective equipment.

https://www.shponline.co.uk/inclusive-ppe/

Article: PPE that fits women: Why is it crucial?

7th February 2024

NAWIC Yorkshire Campaign Manager has collaborated with the Considerate Constructors Scheme, on an article about inclusive PPE following their mandate.

https://www.ccscheme.org.uk/blog/ppe-that-fits-women-construction/

Article: The Wrong Fit | Women's PPE in Construction

30th January 2024

NAWIC Yorkshire Campaign Manager has collaborated with the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, on an article about inclusive PPE

https://www.rospa.com/news-and-views/womens-ppe-in-construction

Webinar: NAWIC Yorkshire works with UK frameworks on two webinars to raise awareness of campaign

17th January 2024

NAWIC Yorkshire held two webinars on 17th January 2024 alongside the Procure Partnerships Framework and the North Wales Construction Framework, to raise awareness of the effects of ill-fitting PPE, and the importance of mandating it throughout the supply chain.

Opportunity to share your experiences with PPE

8th January 2024

NAWIC Yorkshire's Campaign Manager is undertaking research on "An Analysis of the Barriers to the Effective Supply of Personal Protective Equipment". If you'd like to participate in the questionnaire then please check out the link below:

https://shusls.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bvzsWm8q1J1AHFI

Considerate Constructors Scheme mandates the provision for Women's PPE

1st January 2024

As of January 1st 2024, the Considerate Constructors Scheme have mandated the provision for women's PPE across all of their registered activities, following working with NAWIC Yorkshire.

https://ciobpeople.com/considerate-contractors-scheme-mandates-ppe-for-women/

Article: ‘It took six years before I realised PPE for women was available’: Katy Robinson on making a difference.

19th December 2023

NAWIC Yorkshire Campaign Manager has collaborated with SHP - Health and Safety News, on an article about inclusive PPE.

https://www.shponline.co.uk/ppe/it-took-six-years-before-i-realised-ppe-for-women-was-available-katy-robinson-on-making-a-difference/

Article: Encouraging the Provision of Women's PPE in the Construction Industry

14th December 2023

NAWIC Yorkshire Campaign Manager has collaborated with the Construction Industry Council, on an article about encouraging the provision for women's PPE.

https://www.cic.org.uk/blog/empowering-change-encouraging-the-provision-of-womens-ppe-in-the-construction-industry

NAWIC Yorkshire & CIOB Collaborate on Webinar

22nd November 2023

NAWIC Yorkshire and the Chartered Institute of Building collaborated on a webinar on Women's PPE.

YORhub leads the way and joins the PPE Campaign

14th November 2023

YORhub leads the way as being the first UK Framework to join the PPE campaign, encouraging their contractors and supply chain to make provision for inclusive PPE.

#PPEthatfits Directory Launched

27th September 2023

The Chartered Institute of Building launches the #PPEthatfits directory, listing companies that “fits the wearer properly, regardless of their gender, culture, religion, size or shape, is safe and compliant with health and safety regulations”.

www.ppethatfits.com

Campaign Collaborators

Throughout our campaign, we've worked closely with a number of individuals, groups, and organisations to investigate what the issues are with women's PPE, and help spread the word across the industry with an aim to make changes to benefit all.