Clothing for Women Working in the Emergency Services

Women make up a growing number of the workforce in the emergency services in the UK. In 2022, women accounted for 35% of police officers.

The ambulance workforce has also been traditionally dominated by men, although the gap is closing. Women now represent 42.5% of ambulance staff across all service roles (NHS England, 2021). For UK paramedics, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) reports 41.7% of paramedic registrants to be female.

This should be seen in the context that in the NHS the percentage of women in all roles is around 70%, so the ambulance profession has some way to go to attract more women. Hopefully this gender imbalance for paramedics will be addressed by the increasing numbers of women enrolling on paramedic degree courses in the UK.

As the number of women in these roles increases, so too does the demand for clothing that is designed specifically for their needs.

Traditionally, emergency services uniforms and clothing have been designed for men. This has meant that women have often had to wear ill-fitting or uncomfortable clothing, which can impact their ability to do their job effectively. In recent years, however, there has been a growing recognition of the need for more gender-specific clothing for emergency services workers.

PFEW National Board Member and Health and Safety Lead, Mark Andrews, has said that current health and safety regulations mean that chief constables up and down England and Wales should feel obliged to ensure that their officers have the best available kit, which includes as standard issue the new 3rd generation body armour.

Gender
Perhaps the most significant development that the 3rd generation body armour offers is the fact it is now available in gender specific design. For the first time in the provision of body armour, women’s requirements are given equal consideration to that of men. Under Regulation 4 of Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992, ‘every employer shall ensure that suitable personal protective equipment is provided to workers who may be exposed to risk’

Female specific
This Act sets out a number of characteristics that are protected and prevent workers from being discriminated against in relation to these H&S Regulations. These protected characteristics cover age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, and sex and sexual orientation. By not providing female specific equipment where it is available, individual Forces are not complying with and are in breach of the Equality Act 2010.

Growing awareness for specialised clothing for women
Women have been serving in the emergency services for many years, but they have often had to contend with ill-fitting or uncomfortable clothing and uniforms. In recent years, there has been a growing awareness of the need for specialised clothing for female emergency personnel.

There are a number of factors to consider when choosing clothing for women in the emergency services. First, the clothing must be functional and durable. It must be able to withstand the rigors of the job, such as exposure to extreme weather conditions, hazardous materials, and physical exertion. Second, the clothing must be comfortable. Finally, the clothing should be gender-specific. Women's bodies are different from men's bodies, and clothing that is designed for men can be uncomfortable and impractical for women.

There are a number of companies that manufacture clothing specifically for women in the emergency services. These companies offer a wide range of products, including uniforms, outdoor clothing, boots, jackets, pants, and accessories.

Leading outdoor clothing specialist Keela has a long history of supplying quality outdoor clothing to emergency service personnel. The company has adapted its range for women and are on a mission to improve the accessibility of women’s clothing in the outdoors and uniform – while still balancing performance and (finally!) a good fit.

For too long, uniform for women has been limited and ill-fitting, with users often having to resort to the dreaded ‘unisex’ fit. Frequent complaints in the sector include gorilla-style arms, impractical features or pocket positions, and overall baggy sizing.

To solve those issues, Keela, with their 50/50 board and a female-led design team, have been hard at work over the past few years expanding their women’s collection for the emergency services sector.

Thankfully the days of ‘shrink it and pink it’ are long gone – with one of Keela’s recent additions including their best-selling Heavyweight Operational Trousers – now available in a women’s fit, and with all of the same features as the men’s – using the same fabric and colour, so no more issues with matching the rest of your team!

PPE
In addition to clothing, there are a number of other personal protective equipment (PPE) items that are essential for women in the emergency services. These items include helmets, eye protection, gloves, and respiratory protection. It is important to choose PPE that fits properly and that is comfortable to wear.

By choosing the right clothing and PPE, women in the emergency services can protect themselves from the weather and injury enabling them to perform their jobs safely and effectively.

For more information visit: www.keelaoutdoors.com