Tarmac support for mums-to-be

Company providing expectant workers with specialist maternity high-vis protective clothing

TARMAC are providing expectant mothers with specialist maternity protective clothing to support them in continuing to work with confidence while pregnant.

The pioneering high-visibility maternity personal protective equipment (PPE) is specially designed for pregnant women and fully compliant with British safety standards.

The innovative clothing follows a TUC industry report* on PPE and pregnant women that found half of the respondents interviewed had been forced to cut back on their normal duties or change roles due to suitable maternity PPE not being available.

Tarmac’s senior vice-president, Martin Riley, said: ‘We’re proud to be leading the way in introducing high-visibility maternity PPE for expectant mothers. This pioneering initiative supports our aim of creating a more inclusive workforce and to work in an environment where all of our employees can be safe and remain healthy.’

Expectant mother Louise Pattison, who works for Tarmac’s Cement and Lime business in Barnstone, Nottingham, commented: ‘It used to be the case that expectant mothers needing PPE for their work had to wear oversized male protective clothing and make their own alterations. 

‘I’m delighted to be one of the first at Tarmac to have the opportunity to wear PPE that is specially made for pregnant women.’

The PPE, which confirms to international health and safety standard EN ISO 20471, is manufactured by Leo Workwear, the UK’s sole supplier of specialist maternity protective clothing.

*‘Personal protective equipment and women’ was published by the TUC in 2017. It was based on 2,655 responses to a TUC survey and 3,086 responses to a joint survey carried out by the trade union Prospect and the Women’s Engineering Society.