www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I November 2024 21
Business
Women and men ’ s anatomy are different – work wear should conform to that .
Shape and fit are important . women lose out on the protection that that the suit is supposed to provide . If the sleeve rolls down , it could get caught in machinery , which could then lead to injury to the wearer .
We know that contracting involves a lot of lifting , carrying , cleaning and cutting . It may not seem like it , but the wrong clothing and footwear could impede a woman ’ s productivity and ability to do her job .
If you consider that overalls , workwear , PPE and footwear are meant to provide some kind of protection to the worker , the magnitude of the issue becomes clear . Collars are designed for men ’ s necks . Shirts and boiler suits are designed to accommodate male anatomy and don ’ t account for changes in women ’ s bodies such as pregnancy . Shirts that are shorter in length are great for men . However , for women , having a short shirt that rides up when they are doing work that involves bending , exposes skin and not just makes them feel uncomfortable but could pose a danger should hazardous material drip onto that skin .
By discounting women ’ s needs as far as workwear is concerned , we are undoing the progress that we are making through integration and diversity in plumbing . Transformation is a big theme for the industry this year , and that extends to something that seems as simple as providing women the right attire for their jobs as plumbers . As Desiree Hlubi , SiSi brand manager at BBF Group says , “ These are conversations that we should have had in the ‘ 50s and ‘ 60s . Why are we still having to talk about this in 2024 ?”
Both Dr Thompson and Hlubi are determined to provide education on women ’ s work attire to bring about change not just in the HVAC industry , but in other sectors as well . If you employ women , this is your chance to help bring about greater change and improve the safety standards you provide for your female staff . RACA
www . refrigerationandaircon . co . za RACA Journal I November 2024 21