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International Women’s Day offers an opportunity to recognize the growing role women are playing in construction — including in occupational health and safety (OHS).

As more women step into OHS roles, including supervisory and leadership positions, they are bringing safety expertise directly to traditionally male-dominated worksites. In doing so, they are helping embed safety into daily operations across B.C., shaping workplace culture, communication and collaboration along the way.

From traffic control to safety leadership

Chelle Wright built an expansive career in construction before stepping into her current role as an occupational safety officer at WorkSafeBC.

She began more than 25 years ago in traffic control — one of the primary roles available to women in construction at the time — and later transitioned into OHS after completing construction safety training, becoming a Level 3 first aid attendant and working for large prime contractors. Along the way, she gained hands-on experience operating mobile equipment and navigating demanding jobsites.

“Traffic control is where many of us got our start,” she says. “But as women entered the trades in greater numbers, we also started to move into occupational health and safety.”

Her experiences on active worksites — operating equipment and witnessing serious injuries — shaped her approach to OHS and her commitment to culture change.

“I’ve stood beside friends who were seriously injured on jobsites, and I’ve also lost friends. Those experiences stay with you,” Wright says. “That’s what pushed me toward safety. I wanted to help change the culture so that every shift ends safely, and all workers can leave the site as whole as they arrived.”

Wright’s path mirrors that of many women who have established themselves in OHS — through perseverance, field experience, formal training and a deep understanding of jobsite risk. Today, that expertise is influencing how safety is practiced across the industry.

Safety as part of a team

Construction sites are constantly changing, with conditions and hazards evolving daily. Effective oversight depends on communication, co-operation and trust among employers, supervisors, crew leaders and safety professionals.

As more women have become integrated into both site leadership and safety teams, that dynamic has continued to evolve.

“When workers see themselves reflected in leadership and prevention, that can make it easier to raise concerns, ask questions or report hazards that might otherwise go unaddressed,” Wright says.

In recent years, safety professionals of all genders have become increasingly embedded in site management discussions. They contribute to planning, provide guidance on risk management and work alongside superintendents and crew leaders to ensure safe work practices are implemented.

“I see a lot more diversity and inclusion in site management teams,” Wright says. “Superintendents and crew leaders are working hand-in-hand with safety professionals to make sure safe work practices are actually in place.”

Growing recognition and impact

��Assumptions about who belongs in safety leadership are shifting.

“Experience and expertise are now valued over gender or where someone started in construction,” Wright says.

“There was a time when people assumed women didn’t really understand the work. Today, people recognize that women in safety not only understand the work but also bring perspectives that contribute to making the job safer for everyone.”

At the same time, the definition of safety is expanding beyond physical hazards. Psychological health and safety — including respectful workplaces, clear communication and protection from harassment — are increasingly recognized as critical components of injury prevention.

“Women in OHS, like their male counterparts, bring technical expertise and jobsite experience,” Wright says. “They may also draw on lived experience navigating construction environments that have not always felt inclusive.”

Respect and acceptance have made a noticeable difference, she adds.

“When you have that, it makes doing a very challenging job easier.”

As the industry continues to evolve, that broader lens is strengthening both physical and psychological safety — contributing to worksites where all workers feel respected, heard and protected.

Yesenia Dhott is an adviser in government, media relations in issues management with WorkSafeBC. Send Industry Perspectives Op-Ed comments and column ideas to editor@journalofcommerce.com.