ABP first UK port operator to adopt women’s personal protective equipment


Tina Raleigh, ABP Quality and Environment Systems Manager, Compliance wearing new women’s PPE
During Maritime Safety Week (1-5 July), Associated British Ports (ABP) is pleased to announce it has become the first UK port operator to provide employees with an exclusive range of women’s personal protective equipment (PPE). The news represents an important milestone in ABP’s efforts to support the role of women in maritime, whilst also further improving safety standards and choice for its workforce.

The rollout of the new PPE range follows an extensive employee consultation process and successful trials. It is also part of ABP’s wider commitment to Maritime UK’s Women in Maritime Charter, an initiative which ABP helped launch in September 2018 to promote the role of women in the maritime sector.

The issue with traditional PPE in the sector was that many products had been primarily designed to fit men and were often too large, too heavy and poor fitting when worn by women. 

This new range of specially-designed protective clothing, which also includes maternityfocused products, is lightweight and further improves safety, whilst also promoting greater inclusivity across the business and encouraging more women to consider a career in maritime.

To deliver this milestone, ABP teamed up with specialist manufacturer, Anchor Safety, to create the new range of PPE, which has been manufactured using the highest quality materials available, ensuring maximum visibility, breathability, weatherproofing and comfort.

Benedicta Moxon, ABP Compliance Business Manager, said: “It has been fantastic to be part of a project that will make a tangible difference to how comfortable and safe women feel at work. At ABP we are committed to creating a workplace which makes everyone feel valued and empowered to thrive. This enhanced range of PPE will achieve these goals, while combining great design with maximum functionality.”

Throughout Maritime Safety Week, ABP is also running a number of safety workshops, covering subjects such as Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH)’s Managing Safely, Cargo Handling in Ports and First Aid at Work, to promote health and safety during the week.

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