1.3 million women are in the construction industry and the number of women in construction has increased by 20% since 2010. Garlock Safety Systems is celebrating National Women in Construction Week this March with some reminders on keeping everyone safe. Engineering News Record astutely notes in their August 2018 article that, as construction is expected to create almost 2 million new jobs by 2021, companies are looking to recruit more women to bring their skill sets into the field. Also, according to the Associated General Contractors of America, 80 percent of construction firms report having a hard time filling the hourly craft positions that represent the bulk of the construction workforce.
It Doesn’t Have To Be Complicated
When you Google “fall protection for women” you get 212 million results. However, fall protection for women doesn’t need to be complicated. Garlock’s fall prevention solutions work as well for women as they do for men. Unlike our fall prevention products such as RailGuard 200, harnesses and other PPE are never “one size fits all.” Further, an ill-fitting fall protection harness may be ineffective and even lead to injuries in the event of a fall. Garlock Safety Solutions products are not only OSHA compliant, but also one-size-fits-all. For example, with our safety railing and skylight protection, everyone is safe and comfortable working at heights. Our products keep sites ready for women in construction, as they should be!
As OSHA notes on their website: Workers have a right to a safe workplace. The law requires employers to provide their employees with working conditions that are free of known dangers. OSHA provides information, training, and assistance to workers and employers. Refer to https://www.osha.gov/doc/topics/women/index.html for more information.
As always, your best bet is to contact your Garlock Safety Solutions representative if you have any questions and we will make sure to help you find the right solution for your business.
Here’s to the 1.3 million American women in construction!