More and more women are entering the welding workforce – in construction, manufacturing, fabrication, automotive and shipbuilding. Thanks to a growing number of organizations and educational programs that promote women in the skilled trades, these new welders are discovering careers that are both gratifying and financially rewarding.
Female and male welders share similar work environments and equipment, receive the same technical training and can achieve the same certifications. Yet many women welders find it difficult to find PPE that fits properly, with the only options designed around men’s proportions. Jackets that are too long and loose and gloves that are too bulky are accepted as part of the job.
But poorly fitting PPE is more than an inconvenience – it can affect safety, comfort and productivity. Recognizing this challenge, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC developed a new line of welding PPE designed specifically around the proportions of women.
“There’s been an increase in women welders within the workforce, but they didn’t have the proper PPE to do their jobs,” says Haley Kaboord, a Miller product manager. “We know that when people have better-fitting PPE, they do their jobs better, have better job satisfaction and have better compliance, as well.”
Ask for input
What would women welders change if they could design their own PPE? To answer that question, Miller put in the time with these welders to gain their input and conduct multiple rounds of field testing.
“The idea came internally from Miller’s own women weld engineers and welders,” Kaboord says. “We worked with several women, including students and internally, to find out what features they thought were important to incorporate and do some field testing. We’d take their feedback and make adjustments from there.
“Unsurprisingly, we found the primary differences are around sizing and fit,” she adds. “Women’s PPE needs to be tailored more toward a woman’s body shape and hands. It needs to eliminate all that extra material that’s hindering them as they work.”
That extra material is especially obvious when women are forced to use men’s PPE. For many women, standard men’s jackets are too long in the torso and sleeves.
“Typically, standard jackets are too long or too large,” Kaboord says. “Even going down a size still ignores women’s typical proportions, such as narrow shoulders, shorter torsos and different hip-to-waist ratios. So, we really took all of that into consideration and tailored it more toward women’s proportions.”
Miller’s new jackets are made from flame-resistant cotton and feature shortened sleeves, better-fitting shoulder areas, wider hip dimensions and adjustable waist snaps for a more customizable, contoured fit. The sizes fit the range of women’s body sizes, going from extra small up to 2XL.
Other features that are not specific to women include a higher collar that better protects against sparks and spatter, particularly during overhead or out-of-position welding, and multiple storage pockets.
In hand
When women wear men’s gloves there is typically excess material due to fitting and sizing issues. Oversized fingertips make it difficult to handle small components or perform detailed welding. Loose gloves can also be tempting to take off and on, creating safety risks.
Miller now offers gloves designed specifically for MIG and TIG welding with an optimal fit for women’s hands. They improve dexterity and overall control while maintaining the same level of protection required for welding applications. Available in small through XL, the gloves do not compromise on safety.
“Some of the factors we found in our research that the women didn’t like about men’s gloves was the fingertips being too long and the palm being too large,” Kaboord says. “For TIG welding, another common problem was gloves that are too thick because of all the extra material. The welder really loses a lot of their dexterity. Our design takes into account women’s narrower fingers and smaller hands, leading to a better-fitting glove.
“Also, the gloves allow the welder to be better protected because they can do tasks with their gloves on,” she adds. “Whereas, if they’re wearing men’s gloves, they might not be able to pick up finer things because the gloves are just too bulky. So, being able to leave their gloves on means they can stay safe throughout their work day.”
The MIG and TIG options allow even better protection because they suit different welding needs. According to Kaboord, MIG gloves are typically thicker and more insulated to help in high-heat applications and protect against spatter. On the other hand, TIG gloves are unlined to provide more dexterity in the fingertips.
A matter of appearance
One of the more notable findings women relayed was that they did not want distinctive colors or stylized equipment. Instead, they wanted PPE that allowed them to blend into the work environment – not stand out because of it. Therefore, the emphasis throughout the design process remained on functionality rather than appearance.
“One of the main points emphasized in the feedback,” Kaboord says, “was the women didn’t want pink colors or other feminine details that make them stand out any more than being a woman in the industry already makes them. It’s already male-dominated so they don’t want to stand out any further.
“We’ve also had some men that really like the gloves in the larger sizes just because they fit a little more snug than a man’s glove,” she adds. “They like them for TIG welding where dexterity is important. A smaller man might even be interested in the women’s jackets. But they aren’t going to be interested if it’s pink.”
Industry feedback has been overwhelmingly positive with women welders appreciating PPE designed for their needs.
“We’ve received a lot of positive feedback from women,” Kaboord says. “They’re very happy to have more options that help them work more efficiently and stay better protected. The young women getting into welding at the high school and trade school levels are excited to see there is PPE available that fits them.”
Women entering the welding workforce offer manufacturers and fabricators an opportunity to grow the number of skilled workers. Addressing issues such as proper PPE benefits everyone. PPE that fits properly is not simply about comfort. It encourages safe practices and allows welders to focus on producing quality work. The new Miller gloves and jackets that prioritize fit and function help women welders perform at their best.
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