'Safety clothing for women will soon be the norm'

Katy Robinson was named the UK's Most Influential Woman in Construction for her successful campaign to make workplace safety clothing more inclusive

Women can now expect better-fitting safety clothes thanks to a campaign for more inclusive workwear.

Katy Robinson, 26, from Driffield, spearheaded a campaign for improved personal protective equipment (PPE) for women.

A new British Standard has now been launched as a result to ensure women are provided with equipment that fits their bodies, as opposed to clothing designed for men that can be uncomfortable and sometimes unsafe.

Ms Robinson, a senior project manager at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: "It's a really positive change and I'm really looking forward to seeing not only how the construction industry adopts it but how all the other industries adopt it as well."

A spokesperson for BSI, the UK national standards body, said: "Traditionally designed around the 'average man,' PPE often falls short in meeting the needs of today's diverse workforce."

They said the introduction of the new standard came as research showed 46% of British women who had been supplied PPE or uniform had been given something that did not fit.

The new guidance aims to ensure employers in all sectors provide staff with PPE that fits, regardless of gender, ethnicity, body shape, age, or disability

Ms Robinson said: "In an industry where we have increasing diversity, it is vital that we work to ensure that everyone can work safely and comfortably, no matter their gender, ethnicity, religion, or disability.

"If you're wearing men's PPE, it's typically oversized, so you can get snagged on items.

"If you're doing technical work as a tradeswoman, it could get caught in your tools, so there's entanglement issues. So overall, it is a health and safety issue."

Ms Robinson has worked for East Riding Council's infrastructure and facilities department for five years and was recently named the UK's Most Influential Woman In Construction by the Construction Industry Training Board.

She is also the campaign leader for the National Association of Women in Construction for Yorkshire.

As well as construction workers, healthcare, factory staff, police and military personnel can also expect more inclusive safety gear to be provided.

"Every industry that requires PPE has helped to feed in to this guidance and I am now going to look forward to seeing how it becomes the norm," said Ms Robinson.

Assistant site manager Louis Sangwin says the campaign has made him consider the challenges his colleagues can face if their safety clothing does not fit

Louis Sangwin, senior assistant site manager on a new supported living facility being built in Driffield, said the new standard introduced for PPE would help everyone.

"It's great to see Katy campaigning for this because I don't think it's acknowledged enough in the construction industry."

Anne Hayes, the BSI's director of sectors and standards development, said: "The provision of inclusive protective equipment isn't just a matter of compliance, it's a matter of respect, dignity, and safety for every individual in the workforce.

"By providing PPE for everyone, we help build safer, more productive workplaces and stop skilled workers from leaving because they feel they don't belong."

Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.

Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices