This International Women\u2019s Day on 8 March, UNI Global Union is putting the spotlight on women\u2019s health and safety in the workplace.<\/p>\r\n
In June, last year the International Labour Organization recognized health and safety as a fundamental right. Now, UNI\u2019s Equal Opportunities department has released a guide which adds a gender-perspective to health and safety at work.<\/p>\r\n
A gender-neutral approach to health and safety in the past has meant that very often the specific challenges to women\u2019s health in the workplace have been neglected. This is often compounded by other intersectional factors impacting women, such as age, race and discrimination.<\/p>\r\n
Women are more likely to be subjected to violence and harassment at work, particularly sexual harassment. PPE is frequently designed to fit men\u2019s bodies, making it cumbersome to wear for women as well as ineffective. Studies in the U.S. show that women are workers are at a disproportionately high risk of incurring job-related musculoskeletal injuries, suffering 63 percent of all work-related repetitive motion injuries.<\/p>\r\n
Additionally, support for women who are pregnant, menstruating or going through the menopause is often inadequate or non-existent. In the U.K., one in ten women have left work because of the menopause.<\/p>\r\n
The guide examines inequality in health and safety, and highlights the impact of psychosocial risks for women, the use of hazardous substances, inadequate work material and uniforms, and sexual and reproductive health, amongst others. It also contains practical exercises to enable trade unions to start exploring the issue, whether in meetings or in workshops, so helping to protect women workers.<\/p>\r\n