• HEALTH AND SAFETY
FIT FOR WOMEN
By Tanya Olckers , edited by Sharyn Macnamara
Women ’ s needs are quite different from men ’ s – especially when it comes to workwear and PPE .
It has been an ongoing theme : where do women find workwear and PPE tailored specifically for them ? While most companies seem to feel that a boiler suit is a boiler suit and a work shoe is a work shoe , the reality is that this is not the case . Women ’ s bodies are different , and these differences need to be accommodated in their workwear not just for their comfort , but for their safety as well .
We have seen a rise in women entering the mining sector , and indeed , they are making their mark in a profession that has previously been viewed as male dominated . The Minerals Council estimates that the industry employed 90 630 women , comprising 19 % of the total full-time workforce in 2023 , with women holding about 25 % of mining companies ’ management positions . 1 You may even have several women working on your team – what are you doing to ensure these women are ‘ covered ’ when it comes to safety ?
Sisi Safety Wear provides solutions tailored specifically for women and are dedicated to both providing education to companies regarding women ’ s needs and to supplying fit-for-purpose workwear , shoes and fall arrest equipment that ensure the safety of the women on your team .
Dr Anette Thompson , a specialist podiatrist and fellow of the Faculty of Podiatric Medicine , Royal Society of Physicians and Surgeons ( Glasgow ), has worked closely with Sisi Safety Wear to ensure that women get the right footwear for their work – both fit for their feet and fit for function . Having been part of research and development in this niche area , she has been involved with the development and design of the footwear Sisi Safety Wear supplies .
The research undertaken included taking 3D laser scans of the feet of over 500 women in South Africa , across all cultures . This helped inform the design of the shoes . “ A woman ’ s foot is physiologically different ,” says Dr Thompson , “ Wearing the wrong footwear can lead to falls , injuries and accidents .”
But , a shoe is a shoe , right ?
Not really . Women ’ s feet swell during pregnancy and during menstruation , which is something that men ’ s feet do not do . Wearing a shoe suited for men will not accommodate these changes . Plus , women who have given birth may find that their shoe size has changed due to ligament changes in their bodies
Images supplied SiSi Safety Wear at BBF Group
Transformation and being future-fit is a major theme for the industry this year , and that extends to something that seems as simple as providing women the right attire for their jobs .
52 • African Mining • January 2025 www . africanmining . co . za