Construction Safety for female employees

Women working in construction face the same dangers as men and are at risk for injuries from falls, lifting and being struck by objects. However many of these issues cannot be addressed the same way for women as for men.

The American Society of Safety Engineers offers the following safety tips for women construction workers:

* Since PPE is often designed for average size men, women must take special care to wear the correct size and type. Work gloves must fit properly, overly large gloves and tight gloves create safety hazards.
* Women must be properly trained to use tools and equipment that were designed for the size and strength of men. Tools like pliers, which require a wide grasp, may not be suitable for women.
* Women’s size and body build require reconsideration of techniques for lifting and material handling. For heavy lifting jobs, women should look for ways to make the lift require less force, such as using leverage or breaking the load into smaller piles.
* Women should maintain visibility at a construction site by wearing a bright reflective vest to avoid being struck by heavy machinery or vehicles.