RefrigiWear Debuts Seven New Women's PPE Styles at NAATSHO Conference

Why Properly Fitting PPE Matters for Women

Properly fitting personal protective equipment is an essential part of effective workplace protection. PPE that is too large, restrictive or poorly suited to a worker's body can interfere with mobility, comfort and job performance while introducing additional workplace hazards.

OSHA's updated PPE requirements for construction reinforce that employers must provide personal protective equipment that properly fits each affected employee. The change places greater attention on a longstanding challenge for women working in construction, transportation, public works and other industrial environments: access to PPE and workwear designed for their bodies rather than simply smaller versions of garments originally patterned for men.

For employers and safety managers, proper fit means considering how PPE performs during the actual work being performed. Workers need clothing and protective equipment that allows them to move, bend, reach and complete their jobs without excessive bulk, loose material or unnecessary restrictions.

RefrigiWear's new women's PPE collection was developed specifically to provide women with the fit, protection and performance needed for demanding work environments while maintaining comparable temperature ratings, durability and high-visibility protection across mixed-gender crews.

RefrigiWear Women's PPE Collection at a Glance

RefrigiWear's new women's PPE and workwear collection includes seven styles designed specifically for women working in transportation, public works, construction and industrial environments.

Insulated and Cold Weather Protection

• Women's HiVis Insulated Softshell Jacket: Comfort rated to -20°F with a wind-tight, water-repellent outershell and ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 Type R, Class 2 visibility.
• Women's HiVis Insulated Softshell Bib Overalls: Comfort rated to -20°F with heat-reflective lining, abrasion-resistant knee patches and ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 Class E visibility.
• Women's Insulated Softshell Jacket: Comfort rated to -20°F with more than 400g of insulating power, a wind-tight, water-repellent outershell and secure zippered pockets.
• Women's Insulated Softshell Bib Overalls: Comfort rated to -20°F with reinforced knees, heavy-duty Y-back suspenders and above-knee leg zippers.

Lightweight and High-Visibility Workwear

• Women's Softshell Jacket: Comfort rated to 20°F with lightweight warmth, a wind-tight outershell and practical storage.
• Women's HiVis Softshell Jacket: Lightweight insulated protection meeting ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 Type R, Class 2 visibility requirements.
• Women's HiVis Hooded Sweatshirt: Durable fleece warmth meeting ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 Type R, Class 3 visibility requirements.

The collection is designed to help employers provide consistent protection and professional outfitting across mixed-gender work crews without requiring women to rely on resized versions of men's workwear.

Key Facts About RefrigiWear's New Women's PPE Collection

• RefrigiWear introduced seven new PPE and workwear styles designed specifically for women.
• The collection is intended for women working in transportation, public works, construction and industrial environments.
• The new styles include insulated jackets, insulated bib overalls, softshell jackets, high-visibility jackets and a high-visibility hooded sweatshirt.
• Select insulated styles are comfort rated to -20°F, while the Women's Softshell Jacket is comfort rated to 20°F.
• Multiple products in the collection meet ANSI/ISEA 107-2020 high-visibility classifications.
• The collection was designed to provide women with workwear engineered for their fit while maintaining comparable protection and performance to equivalent men's styles.
• The collection supports employers seeking consistent PPE and workwear solutions for mixed-gender crews.
• Properly fitting PPE is an increasingly important consideration for employers following OSHA's updated requirements for construction PPE.

Related RefrigiWear Safety Resources

Learn how OSHA's updated construction PPE requirements affect employers and why proper fit is an important part of effective protection for women and workers with different body sizes.

Learn how ANSI/ISEA 107 classifications, work environment and visibility risks can affect the selection of high-visibility PPE for construction, roadway, industrial and transportation workers.

Explore RefrigiWear resources for selecting insulated workwear, high-visibility PPE and other protective gear based on workplace conditions, hazards and job requirements.

A Broader Shift Toward PPE That Fits Every Worker

The introduction of RefrigiWear's women's collection reflects a broader shift in workplace safety toward evaluating not only whether PPE meets applicable protection and visibility standards, but also whether it properly fits the worker expected to wear it.

For safety managers, procurement teams and employers, that means considering fit alongside factors such as thermal protection, mobility, durability, visibility and the specific hazards of the job. A PPE program designed around the needs of the entire workforce can help organizations create more consistent outfitting standards across teams while giving individual workers access to equipment designed to perform in their actual work environment.