Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is critical for seafarers as they are exposed to heavy duty work and dangerous materials that pose a threat to their lives. The safety of seafarers depends largely on the effectiveness of the equipment they wear. However, PPE is not equally accessible to all, and especially to female seafarers.
Why appropriate PPE matters
As seafarers account for a predominantly male workforce, female seafarers experience great difficulty in finding appropriate protective equipment for themselves. Women seafarers make up just 2% of the crewing workforce and are predominately found in the cruise sector, while in ship-owning companies, they made up 34% of the workforce.
However, being less doesn’t mean they have to be less-than. Women seafarers’ safety and wellbeing is just as important, even if they are a minority in the industry. In 2019, CHIRP had pointed out the following truths regarding women using PPE designed for men:
- A typical woman’s foot is both shorter and narrower than a typical man’s foot so even if the shoe is the correct length, it would be too wide.
- A woman’s face is generally smaller and finer than a man’s so protective eye wear made for a man could leave gaps at the temples allowing ingress of foreign bodies.
- The average woman has shorter, narrower hands so even a small size glove designed for a man would be loose.
- Slips and falls protection is not properly addressed by an improperly sized safety harness.
- Woman wearing a hard hat designed for a man may risk having her vision obscured if it slips over her eyes.
- A woman who cannot find correctly fitting and comfortable PPE is less likely to wear items of PPE and thereby puts herself at increased risk of injury.
Furthermore, during Solent University’s 2020 research to determine whether ill-fitting personal protective equipment is causing problems onboard ships, more than 80% of female participants reported that they have experienced problems with PPE relating to their gender.
According to women asked in this year’s Seafarer’s Charity The port-based welfare needs of women seafarers report, ill-fitting PPE remains an issue. The provision of appropriate PPE was overlooked with the result that they frequently worked in PPE that was too large for them and sometimes resorted to purchasing their own PPE ashore and bringing it in their luggage.
Where we stand
Several maritime companies are taking steps to address this issue, especially because recent revisions to the MLC, 2006 demand that all seafarers have access to suitably sized PPE by December 2024.
For instance, this March, Synergy Group provided tailor-made Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to female seafarers on more than 60 vessels. The gear was designed by textile engineers in conjunction with female seafarers and maritime safety experts.
Looking forward
Providing appropriate Personal Protective Equipment and generally ensuring the safety of an individual is simply a humane thing to do. If shipping companies truly wish to have a diverse workforce, they should tend to its needs.
Female seafarers may be a small minority but that doesn’t mean that they should be overlooked and dismissed. Appropriate action should be taken in advance to ensure that women are provided with appropriate Personal Protective Equipment, before the need to do so is reinforced by injuries and casualties.
