Over the last decade there has been an increase of women being employed in the mining industry, particularly underground and in jobs previously exclusively performed by men. This increase of women in the previously male dominated environment has led to many challenges. One of these challenges that have confronted women is the use of the personal protective equipment (PPE) that has not taken the female anthropometric characteristics into account.

As a result many areas of the work environment within the South African mining industry are unsuitable for deploying female employees because suitable PPE may be a problem. PPE equipment generally has been designed to suit the male physique. Women in mining have special health and safety needs resulting from their unique anatomical and physiological makeup. Additionally, there is scarcity of published data on the health and safety concerns and issues of women in mining.

The findings of workshops held in 2014 by independent researches indicated that often PPE available for use at mines is unsuitable for female workers and sometimes poses health and safety challenges. This implies that female mine workers do not have adequate protection against risks from work-related hazards while their personal comfort and work performance may be compromised. The results of the workshops indicate that WIM often face health and safety challenges related to the PPE currently provided, because of its design. This has also led to WIM being dissatisfied with their PPE.

As indicated in SIMRAC Research Project SIM 100904 there is a possible association between the type of PPE used by women and increased vulnerability to skin conditions such as contact dermatitis, chaffing and rashes including bacterial and fungal infections. The situation is further exacerbated by the unique coping mechanisms (e.g. use of nylon tights and thick wool socks as undergarments), that WIM have been compelled to practice in order to adjust/correct the ill-fitting PPE. These unorthodox adjustments further increase the risk of infections, chaffing and rashes.

The selection, provision and use of PPE in the workplace should not only be based on hazard identification and risk assessment processes, but should incorporate ergonomic and comfort aspects of users so as to guarantee PPE efficiency for all workers. This approach will ensure that the specificities of female anthropometries are accommodated. The hazards identified will determine the body part that is to be protected and therefore the PPE required. The PPE could include, but is not limited foot protection, respiratory protection, vibration and hearing protection and thermal protection.

(Refer to Annexure 3: Table on Common Hazards at Mines and possible PPE.

This annexure is intended for information purposes only).