Engineered to provide full protection and comfort throughout pregnancy, iron-ore miner Kumba Iron Ore’s maternity personal protective equipment (PPE) initiative combines safety compliance with ergonomic fit.

Included in the range are custom two-tone shirts with Velcro-adjustable panels, as well as maternity jeans that can expand as needed to address long-standing issues of ill-fitting, male-cut PPE.

The range has been constructed from breathable, fire-retardant fabrics with back vents for airflow, in addition to featuring adjustable closures to ensure a secure yet flexible fit.

“The design replaces onepiece, malecut overalls with adjustable, twopiece garments that improve mobility and allow for quicker, more discreet hygiene breaks, while postpartum provisions support a smoother return to work,” explains Kumba transformation head and women in mining integration lead Kutlwano Takadi.

Combining sustainability and durability, the reusable and adjustable designs can be adapted across trimesters to extend garment life and reduce waste.

Additionally, the same “human-centred” principles of stretch panels, gussets and adaptable fasteners can inspire other inclusive ranges, such as plus-size workwear and culturally appropriate garments, while upholding critical safety standards such as high-visibility compliance.

This also aligns with global trends in ergonomics and green manufacturing, where washable, long-lasting textiles are enhanced with flame-retardant and antimicrobial finishes.

Takadi notes that this programme is anchored in the South African National Standards (SANS), South African Bureau of Standards, and the Department of Mineral and Petroleum Resources’ mandatory code of practice (MCOP), supported by regulatory oversight from National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications to combat noncompliance.

Kumba further ensures that its maternity PPE is safety-compliant and site-ready by partnering with certified suppliers, conducting independent quality-assurance checks, and aligning with international benchmarks by the International Organisation for Standardisation, as well as with SANS.

Kumba’s in-house safety specialists and employee representatives have validated the PPE’s compliance and comfort through user trials, thereby guaranteeing that every garment is protective and ergonomically fit for purpose.

Workplace Inclusivity
“This initiative removes everyday barriers – such as discomfort and limited facilities – by providing pregnancy-appropriate, tailored PPE and support structures, including lactation rooms, enabling women to work safely and confidently while normalising female participation across mining roles,” Takadi highlights.

She explains that, on site, the maternity range mirrors the mine’s two-tone shirts and denims, so that pregnant employees – although they are not working in hazardous areas – remain “dressed like the team”, reinforcing a sense of belonging.

This approach further aligns with the Mine Health and Safety Council guidance, as well as the MCOP’s emphasis on comfort and appropriate facilities, targeting the daily frictions in equipment, clothing and amenities that can limit progress, thereby helping to turn increased female participation into sustained inclusion and performance.

It also aligns with mining industry employers association Minerals Council South Africa’s inclusion agenda.

Takadi says the initiative shows how inclusive design can drive broader innovation, even as pregnant employees are reassigned to low-risk roles for added safety.

South Africa is well positioned to lead gender-inclusive PPE design, owing to clear regulations, such as the MCOP, strong SANS-compliant manufacturing capacity and growing regional demand, she emphasises.

Further, with the technical textiles market expanding and global research driving sustainable, high-performance fabrics, conditions favour local and relevant innovation.

As such, local sourcing was a key priority for this initiative. The pilot batch of Kumba’s maternity PPE and its full rollout was achieved within South Africa’s PPE manufacturing ecosystem, leveraging SANS-compliant producers to ensure product quality, and enable faster replenishment and skills retention, Takadi elaborates.

The programme prioritises local manufacturers, meeting broad-based black economic-empowerment requirements, consequently helping to build long-term capacity in the PPE sector.

Kumba’s maternity PPE initiative demonstrates that safety and dignity must go “hand in hand” to move beyond simply accommodating pregnancy to actively representing it in operational environments, she adds.

“This initiative represents a clear cultural shift in mining, from basic compliance to genuine inclusion, by acknowledging and valuing women’s lived experiences,” Takadi concludes.