Jessica O'ConnorA new national benchmark aimed at improving women’s safety, dignity and career progression on construction sites has been formally launched in the House of Lords.
The Construction for Women: National Site Standard for Female Operatives, developed by Construction for Women (CFW), is the first governance-led UK framework to set out minimum expectations for how women should be supported and protected on construction sites where the standard is adopted.
The standard was launched on 14th January at an event hosted by Women in Construction Anglia, reflecting increasing political, regulatory and industry attention on women’s safety, equality and long-term workforce sustainability in construction.
The Considerate Constructors Scheme (CCS) has become the first national body to adopt the standard, marking a significant step towards wider, consistent implementation across the sector.
The framework addresses longstanding and widely reported challenges faced by women on site, including poorly fitting PPE, inadequate welfare facilities, inconsistent behavioural standards, and the under-representation and loss of women from site-based roles.
Its introduction comes amid growing scrutiny of workplace equality and skills shortages across the construction industry.
The National Site Standard establishes enforceable expectations for contractors, clients, public bodies and site teams, and is designed to integrate into existing governance and assurance systems.
It can be embedded within site audits, compliance frameworks, social value delivery, equality strategies and public-sector procurement requirements.
Until now, no unified national standard has existed to define minimum conditions for women working on construction sites. CFW says the new framework provides clarity, consistency and accountability at a sector-wide level.
The standard is built around key principles including safety, dignity, representation, behaviour, accessibility and progression.
Minimum requirements include: Female-fit PPE available as standard from day one; private, clean and secure welfare facilities, including storage and wellbeing space; zero tolerance of harassment and discriminatory behaviour, with clear reporting routes, inclusive operational practices, task allocation and communication as well as mandatory training and induction briefings and access to mentoring, training and progression pathways.
CFW has designed the standard for national rollout through industry communication, governance integration, workforce training and alignment with public-sector frameworks.
The organisation will also provide implementation guidance, mentoring support, training and ongoing refinement of the standard based on evidence and lived experience.
CFW said the standard offers the industry an opportunity to strengthen safety and inclusion while aligning with national skills, social value and workforce priorities.
