The construction industry has changed dramatically over the past fifty years. Material handling and lifting have gone from manual to mechanized. Workers need to be smarter not stronger.
This evolution opens the door to more women on the construction work crew, and more women accept the challenge today than in the past. Crews still average about 97% male; however, female engineers, supervisors, and architects are common-place. In more physical careers like sheriffs, bailiffs, and guards, females account for over thirty percent of the workforce.
Think about the percentages. If you immediately eliminate half the workforce, the pool of quality workers decreases. And, just as many little girls grew up with tradesmen as did little boys, so they may have learned something along the way to adulthood.
Discrimination and sexual harassment are illegal. If your crew is allowed to openly practice either, you're going to create problems for the women professionals who choose contracting companies - those developers, architects and engineers.
Given this reality and the direction of evolution in the construction industry, why not embrace the idea of women as on-site workers? Inclusion will improve your worker pool.
Be mindful of two situations:
1. Sexual harassment is an ugly practice and employees in a male dominated workplace need to understand it will not be tolerated.
2. In the screening process for employment, design objective tests. Do not say there is a need to lift substantial weight. State you must be able to lift and carry fifty pounds, or whatever is the amount that is likely to occur. These qualifications protect both parties; they don't get hurt overexerting, you don't have a work comp claim.
Devise a checklist of objective work related physical capability tests. Administer them fairly and equally. You may be surprised by the capable candidates you've ignored in the past.
Have a professional review your employment practices liability and sexual harassment exposures. Listen to recommendations as how to eliminate these practices.