To promote period dignity for female workers in the construction industry, a campaign led by UK construction union Unite has been launched.

Unite conducted a survey of its women construction members, which identified a lack of facilities, when women were having their periods, as a major issue for many workers.

Unite is asking companies to sign up to the campaign and deliver four initiatives:

• Ensure each site or depot has a designated female toilet, which is always accessible, regularly cleaned and lockable

• Handwashing facilities with running water and soap are provided in all welfare facilities

• Sanitary bins are provided and they are cleaned and emptied regularly

• Sanitary products are provided in a dispenser in a discreet location, free to workers.

“Unite is asking construction employers to sign up to four basic demands which will ensure that women workers can experience period dignity,” said Unite assistant general secretary Gail Cartmail.

“With ever growing skills shortages in our industry, it is absolutely essential that construction becomes more attractive to women workers. A small step in achieving this is to ensure that women construction workers can have period dignity at work. Unite welcomes Multiplex’s role as a trailblazer in signing up to the campaign and will continue to highlight other sites and companies which also sign up in the future,” Gail added.

The first site to sign up to Unite’s campaign is the Glasgow University Campus development which is being built by Multiplex. Other sites are expected to sign up in the coming weeks.