Its guidance on women’s PPE, Personal protective equipment and women: guidance for workplace representatives, points out that items such as fall-arrest harnesses need to fit well, but differences in chest, hips and thighs can affect the way the straps fit. A typical woman’s foot is both shorter and narrower than a typical man’s foot, so a smaller boot might be the right length, but not the right width. Women also find it very difficult to get suitable PPE during pregnancy.