Women's Workwear

[BAJR]

owners Blacks Leisure announced that 89 loss-making stores across the country will be closed. About 50 head-office jobs will also be axed, as part of a recovery plan it hopes will win the support of its banks.
Blacks Leisure, which has over 400 stores including the Blacks Outdoor stores as well as the Millets chains, could not confirm which branches would be shut.

[Dinosaur]

Cheers for that - was worried, get my thermals there! - if anyone's interested Peter Storm base-layer thermals are really good for digging in, not too thick, don't ruck and if really cold they work ok in multiples (only tried 3 layers so far but could still move) :face-approve:

[Dirty Boy]

I don't personally have a problem with either Millets (are they stil in business by the way) or B&Q for what they do, but (and here's the rub), neither would be on my list of suppliers of suitable PPE 'fit for purpose'.....and its unfortunate that much of the moaning that goes on from archaeologists regarding PPE is concerned with the fact that 'Millets' style waterproofs split within ten minutes of being first put on, B&Q safety helmets contain no comfort padding band or facility for attaching ear or eye protection etc etc .....

I have never heard any archaeologist say that PPE shouldn't be worn on grounds they would rather be unsafe!! Surely it can't be beyond the imagination of the H&S organiser within any archaeological organisation to 'google' the countless suppliers out there and find one who can provide suitable PPE equipment fit for purpose.....or even just ring David and ask what the BAJR toolstore can supply....guaranteed reliability at the very least I think.....

B & Q gloves were a stop gap for a few days until better replacements arrived, and while they do great stuff, I certainly insist on better gear, much like yourself.

Again, with archaeologists saying that PPE shouldn't be worn on the grounds that they'd rather be unsafe - that's not what I was trying to say (maybe I could have phrased it better in my post).

Its more when you have to wear mandatory PPE that's over the top for the task, but not in itself dangerous. The usual goggles, gloves, hat, combo in open fields far from machinery that everyone dislikes.

All I'm trying to suggest is that if you suggest a supplier as another option for your PPE, you may get more of a positive response. And in my case, I honestly didn't know about womens cut flashjackets or waterproofs, etc. as its never been brought up before on-site as a serious issue.

Yes a good H&S supplier should know good suppliers, but it never hurts to poke your on-site supervisor and point out quite seriously that while you're quite happy to wear PPE, it needs to fit. If they're any good at their job, they'll listen.

I'm going to spend a bit of a search around to find some good suppliers, and then pass the list on to the management and keep it to pass onto clients who insist and provide PPE on excavations. Its always worth a try.

[Geli]

It's good that you are taking this matter seriously Dirty Boy, as are others, but are you willing to go the extra yard and point out to your management / clients that it is a legal requirement to provide PPE fit for purpose and that not providing a suitable female alternative is also (potentially) sexual discrimination in the work place? If you want to really move forward with this I'd also suggest you join a union. It's quite easy for all of us to posture and discuss these issues on the forum but we have to be ready to move these things forward in the real world as well.

[BAJR]

That would be most welcome... lets get this moving... and as people already know, this should be part of the wider unionisation er... move!

Unions are not just there for the nasty things in life. :face-approve:

[Dinosaur]

If the female half of the staff want different PPE that fits them better they should ask for it, I've certainly never heard the issue raised before in the workplace (other than having to order 'small') - the usual complaint is that none of it ever seems to fit anybody (the day I lay my hands on a helmet that will stay on I'll die happy...). If the stuff's out there then surely there shouldn't be any problem supplying it to the workforce, just a tiny matter of changing the order? Ask for it, girls, and you never know, it might actually appear!

[Geli]

It is quite possibly an awareness thing. I think the culture we work in predetermines that people lack an awareness of their rights in the workplace, the Female PPE issue perhaps illustrates this. This lack of awareness probably exists on all levels - from digger to management. Anyway this issue is certainly quite worthy of pursuing and I shall be mentioning it to my Female colleagues.

[kevin wooldridge]

To take up Dinosaur's points....I think there is a misunderstanding of the rules regarding PPE. If employers were to take as the bottom line that every individual (irrespective of gender) requires PPE that fits and is fit for purpose then the problem is solved.... unfortunately there are far too many that claim 'I never realised it was a problem' and 'nobody has ever complained' as a get out from actually ensuring that the rules on PPE are folowed. It shouldn't be a case of women having to complain, it should be a case of everyone complaining to make sure the law is complied with. It shouldn't be a case of employers making a special case for women because they want PPE that fits, but for every worker irrespective of gender.

It may be that BAJR has raised and solved an issue here....but I suspect that some people out there sill aren't listening and will continue to claim that it isn't a problem....

[Geli]

Quite so Kevin. "I didn't know" is not a valid excuse. Ignorance of the law as they say is no defense!

[BAJR]

If the stuff's out there then surely there shouldn't be any problem supplying it to the workforce, just a tiny matter of changing the order? Ask for it, girls, and you never know, it might actually appear!

ahem... ...overlooking the 'girls' comment... Here is an idea.... you ask them. Or indeed .. provide it. Without having to be asked. This is one of the campaigns in the Unionisation and diggers Charter. IT seems to be universal in the UK. OK... people were not aware before... well now they are. As both teh IfA and BAJR supported the original survey as well... it is even more important than ever.