Following efforts by the mining industry to cater for the increased employment of women in the industry, women’s safety wear manufacturer Sisi Safety Wear is adapting to these trends and addressing challenges through their design of workwear that is well suited to a woman’s body type.

Ill-fitting personal protective equipment (PPE) can catch on moving machinery, presenting significant dangers to mineworkers, while incorrectly sized shoes can lead to slips, trips or falls.

The company asserts that the irritation and distraction caused by ill-fitting PPE can cause discomfort for employees and affect their productivity negatively.

It notes that the male form continues to dominate the design of PPE and that women entering the mining sector are often forced to use such PPE without alternatives.

To mitigate this, Sisi offers footwear and form-fitting PPE clothing, including maternity wear and arc flash suits that are specifically tailored for the various body types of women.

It also places emphasis on technology as an important aspect in the development of workwear for women in the mining sector.

The company uses design technology, such as three-dimensional laser scanning, to provide crucial insights regarding the general shape of a woman’s foot. These measurements are used to inform an extensive database, which the company draws upon for its PPE design strategies.

Research Significance

“Before we even get to the wear trial stage, we have already gone through our entire database to [identify] . . . the shape differences and what [is] needed to . . . build footwear that is specific to women,” elaborates Sisi Safety Wear consulting podiatrist Dr Anette Thompson.

Detailing the skeletal distinction between men and women, she notes that the contrast of the pelvic girdle determines some of the muscles’ range of movement within the thigh and the leg of an individual.

She notes that a woman’s heel is narrower than that of a man, and stresses that this factor is key when Sisi considers the manufacturing of durable shoes that accommodate the workwear requirements of women.

Thompson highlights the importance of durability and adaptability in women’s footwear, owing to women being more prone to swelling at certain times of the month or during pregnancy.

Increased efforts should also be made towards educating women in the mining sector on the importance of accessing a podiatrist to maintain proper foot health. Often, mineworkers with poor footcare allow for an early-stage foot condition to become a problem without the knowledge that remedial action can be taken by consulting a podiatrist, she adds.

“Part of what we are doing in our education programme is saying to women: ‘If you do have a foot problem . . . consult a podiatrist and get it sorted out. Don’t adopt the attitude that it’s a shoe problem’.”

Such problems emanate or worsen as a result of women wearing men’s shoes.

“We know, as podiatrists, that at least 10% to 13% of the working population have foot problems,” highlights Thompson.

Excess bodyweight, and conditions such as diabetes and arthritis, can also have debilitating effects on women. Sisi footwear products offer additional cushioning in their footwear to mitigate these conditions.

Sisi asserts that designing PPE that is tailored for women improves function and ease of movement, and that this has an implication for preventing accidents.

Further, unisex PPE should not be perceived as an alternative to PPE designed specifically for women, notes Sisi Brand Manager at BBF Safety Group Desiree Hlubi, as it is ill-fitting and tends to cause discomfort among women.

Ill-fitting PPE can also be detrimental to women’s mental health, as their dignity might be compromised if garments do not cover them, and they can become increasingly uncomfortable around colleagues.

“Women have multiple aspects to their lives as they are professionals, mothers, wives and grandmothers. The garments that are currently [used] in the workplace do not necessarily give them that sense of respect and dignity,” adds Hlubi.

She stresses the importance of women working in the mining industry enjoying equal respect without having to compromise their bodily integrity.

Sisi Safety Wear will continue to assess the muscular-skeletal function of women deployed in various mining settings and refine its range of women’s workwear.