https://www.miningweekly.com

Protective clothing designed with women in mind

3M product manager Friedah Skhosana discusses female PPE. Camerawork: Nicholas Boyd. Editing: Shane Williams.

5th July 2013

By: Leandi Kolver

Creamer Media Deputy Editor

  

Font size: - +

Women working in the mining industry may face health and safety risks, as personal protective equipment (PPE) and clothing are designed for average-sized men and, therefore, the protective function may be reduced because the items do not fit properly when worn by women.

For this reason, multisector science-based product supplier 3M’s personal safety division has designed its solution to include PPE for women, says 3M South Africa product manager Friedah Skhosana.
“As 3M, we have always listened to our customers and we continue to promote worker safety. Recently, there has been an initiative to address some of the concerns in the mining industry relating to the lack of PPE in the mining industry that fits women properly. 3M has a PPE solution available in various sizes to better accommodate the female employee,” she says.

Canadian health and safety organisation the Industrial Accident Prevention Association, in conjunction with the Ontario Women’s Directorate, published a report in 2006, titled ‘Personal Protective Equipment for Women: Addressing the Need’, which explains why ill-fitting PPE can jeopardise the health and safety of women.

The report states that, for example, should a woman with a small face wear safety goggles designed for men, there will be gaps at her temples, which could leave her exposed to flying debris reaching her eyes.

Further, if a woman wears men-sized work boots, the large shoes could cause her to trip and fall.

“In addition, men and women whose protective equipment does not fit or is uncomfortable to wear tend to avoid using it, regardless of the risk involved,” the report states.

To address this need, 3M’s coveralls are now available in smaller sizes, while it also has a range of respirators that includes smaller respirators, which fit better on the face of a small person, Skhosana explains.

“There is a change in demand patterns in the mining industry, requests for smaller PPE sizes are increasing, and our supply in this category is growing, compared with orders being placed for large items only,” she concludes.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

Comments

Latest News

Ironveld smelter
Ironveld ramp-up slower than expected
28th March 2024 By: Darren Parker

Showroom

Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East
Weir Minerals Africa and Middle East

Weir Minerals Europe, Middle East and Africa is a global supplier of excellent minerals solutions, including pumps, valves, hydrocyclones,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
SAIMC (Society for Automation, Instrumentation, Mechatronics and Control)
SAIMC (Society for Automation, Instrumentation, Mechatronics and Control)

Education: Consulting with member companies to obtain the optimal benefits from their B-BBEE spending, skills resources as well as B-BBEE points

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Hyphen, Eva mine, ferrochrome price make headlines
Hyphen, Eva mine, ferrochrome price make headlines
27th March 2024
Resources Watch
Resources Watch
27th March 2024

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.1 0.134s - 90pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now