08/25/2025
In 2024, Washington State passed House Bill 2266, requiring construction employers to provide accommodations for individuals who menstruate or express milk on jobsites. This legislation is a meaningful step toward improving sanitary conditions and advancing equity for all workers in the field.
At MCAWW, we are encouraged to see member organizations responding with thoughtful and practical solutions. These efforts reflect a broader commitment to workforce well-being and inclusive jobsite practices.
One example is McKinstry’s Project W — a women’s field kit that was designed by women in the field for women in the field — on construction jobsites, in service vans, and at unique project sites everywhere. The field kits are designed to ensure that women have access to the items they need to be safe, healthy and supported. Women are still significantly underrepresented in construction, making up about 10% of all construction workers and less than 4% of frontline workers in the industry. The result is that women are often the only woman on a jobsite, or one of very few.
Two years ago, McKinstry set out to work in partnership with a number of women craft employees to design and develop women’s field kits. The initiative began well before HB 2266 was passed but directly supports the legislation’s goals and helps ensure compliance. The original idea for the field kits came from one of McKinstry's women journeyman-level workers, who saw a critical need and opportunity to better support women working in the field. The field kits are designed to ensure that women who work on jobsites or in service vans are safe, healthy, and supported, containing products including bathroom hygiene items, hair protection, period products and other general health and safety items. The kits are a complimentary, voluntary benefit provided by McKinstry, and refills are available for free and on-demand leveraging a simple QR code and online form.
We commend McKinstry for its thoughtful and proactive approach to supporting equity on jobsites. Efforts like Project W, launched ahead of HB 2266 but aligned with its intent, illustrate how member organizations are advancing jobsite equity with care and intention. We look forward to continued collaboration across the industry as implementation progresses.
