Welding Gear for Women

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Whether you’re an experienced professional or just starting your welding classes, you’ve likely noticed a serious problem with the personal protective gear if you’re a woman. Men make up the majority of welders. However, when it comes to personal protective equipment (PPE) in any industry, one size doesn’t fit all. Women need gear that fits correctly. Fortunately, companies are starting to design lines of gear specifically for women allowing them to stay safe on the job. ¹

Proper Size Equals Safety

Personal protective gear like gloves, helmets, and goggles help protect workers from getting hurt on the job. However, in physically demanding industries that have traditionally been dominated by men, such as welding and construction, the gear seldom accommodates smaller stature. In fact, OSHA notes that one of the primary issues women typically encounter with personal protective gear is the lack of range of sizes and types. ²

What to Look for in PPE Gear

woman with welding gear

Whether in a welding degree program or on the shop floor, wearing personal protective equipment can help keep you safe. Following are some guidelines for women when selecting welding gear.

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Gloves: Women need protective gloves, and ones made for men may be too large to fit adequately. Gloves should fit a woman’s fingers and palms and be fire resistant to allow for mobility and protection.
Clothing: Protective clothing designed with men in mind may be too large for women. Cuffing the pants or rolling up the sleeves to fit a woman can be dangerous because the extra material can become caught in equipment. Hot sparks or smoldering metal fragments could also become trapped in folded articles of clothing.
Boots: Most boots designed for the skilled trades industry like welding are made for the average-sized man. Dropping heavy objects on the feet could also be more dangerous because the steel cap of men’s boots may not adequately protect women’s feet. ³ Be sure to buy the right size boots, and don’t hesitate to exchange them for a better size if they end up not fitting properly.

Women Welders

Women accounted for 4.2 percent of welders in 2015, which is a small percentage, and the industry is slowly trying to reach out to women. Already, women are proving that they can excel in the welding industry. Having PPE that is made for their bodies should not have to be an issue. Shops and manufacturers are beginning to understand that. Having gear that fits properly will ensure the safety for women welders.

As older welders continue to retire, the industry will need skilled men and women to fill those positions. If a career in welding interests you, contact Tulsa Welding School today to learn more about various welding training programs. The school has been preparing men and women for successful welding careers for over 65 years.

1 – http://www.ishn.com/articles/99434-one-size-doesnt-fit-all-womens-ppe-needs
2 – http://www.safetyandhealthmagazine.com/articles/10602-Women-and-PPE-Finding-the-right-fit
3 – http://www.lhsfna.org/index.cfm/lifelines/december-2015/ill-fitting-ppe-hurts-women-and-construction/