option of wearing fire-resistant stockings; the decision comes down to
whether to spend the extra money on more expensive fire-resistant
stockings.
c. Related research
Research on whether dress codes pose health and safety risks is
limited. The findings of domestic research are as follows:
a) Emergency response capabilities and safety risks
The complainant pointed out that normally, trousers are worn during
safety training, which fails to reflect the physical restrictions and risks
caused by the wearing of skirts and stockings in real-life emergencies.
Wan (2016) studied international aviation safety incidents as well as
reports published by aviation safety and transportation agencies worldwide
over a period of several years to analyze safety issues involving uniforms.55
The studies indicated that nearly all fatal aircraft accidents result in postcrash fires, which often cause toxic smoke and injuries that prevent rapid
evacuation from the aircraft. Therefore, current aviation regulations require
aircraft to prove that passengers can evacuate within 90 seconds, mainly to
reduce the hazards of fire and smoke to passengers.
Wan remarked that the safety of cabin crew should be prioritized over
their appearance, asserting that “focusing on their uniforms is establishing
the first line of defense for safety.” She compiled recommendations from
the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, Transport Canada’s Civil
Aviation Department, and the Australian Society of Air Safety
Investigators on enhancing cabin crew uniform safety. These international
transportation and aviation safety bodies shared similar opinions:
• Select long-sleeved tops and trousers.
• Avoid overly long, tight, or short skirts.
• Choose enclosed, low-heeled shoes.
55
K.M., Wan (2016). “Cabin crew Uniform and Passenger Apparel Recommendations.”
Cabin Safety and Health Management (New Taipei City: Yang-Chih Book Co.,
Ltd.).
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