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A partnership between the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association (SMACNA) and the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail, and Transportation Workers (SMART) has resulted in the introduction of outdoor lactation pods for working mothers in the construction industry. These secure and weatherproof pods, resembling portable restrooms, are equipped with amenities such as seating, sinks, refrigerators, air conditioning, and Wi-Fi, providing a private, comfortable space for breastfeeding mothers on jobsites.
The PUMP Act, which grants most nursing employees the right to reasonable break time and a private place to pump, aims to support the well-being and equality of women in construction, and all employers covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act must comply with the regulation, Construction Dive reports.
While in an airport, [Julie] Muller discovered lactation pods — unobtrusive, tiny rooms set up with secure access for the privacy and comfort of breastfeeding moms.
“Right away, I thought about how these could be used for women in construction,” she said in a news release shared with Construction Dive. Because the current models weren’t suitable for outdoor use, Muller found a company, Portable Trailer Products in Riverside, California, that could manufacture outdoor-ready pods. She approached the Women’s Committees at SMACNA Western Washington and SMART Local 66 for support.
SMACNA and SMART agreed to fund the initiative, and the first two outdoor lactation pods were delivered to SMART Local 66 training facilities in Everett, Washington, and DuPont, Washington, this summer.
