Women working in the construction trades–carpentry, cement masonry, sheet-metal, iron working, electricians, and so on–face all the same challenges that men in the trades do, plus some challenges that the men don’t. These include ergonomic challenges from machines and tools typically designed for bigger people, the difficulty of finding PPE that fits properly, a work culture that’s at times unwelcoming and even abusive, sexual discrimination and harassment, and more.

In this article, we talk with Hannah Curtis, a Research Coordinator with the University of Washington, to learn more about these issues in general and to learn about a research study she conducted called Safety and Health Empowerment for Women in Trades (SHEWT for short).

We’d like to thank Hannah and everyone else involved in the study for their work, and give a special thanks for Hannah for taking some time out of her busy schedule to discuss these important issues with us. Below, she shares some eye-opening research about the scope of some of the problems, but also provides some tips for how we can all help to make the construction trades (and workplaces in general) a safer, healthier place for women. She also gives some great resources for women who are currently in the construction trades or who are looking to get into them–because despite some problems, the construction trades also offer great opportunities to women, as Hannah describes below too.

We’ve got a recorded video of the conversation for you immediately below, plus if you’d rather read, we have a transcript just below the MORE button.

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Here’s another article in our OSHA Basics series.

In this one, we’re going to explain what OSHA’s Special Industry Regulations are and let you know where you can find them.

Read on to learn more.

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In a purely non-scientific, sticking-my-finger-into-the-wind kind of way, it seems to me there’s been more discussion of Safety 2, Human and Organizational Performance (HOP), and Safety Differently lately.

Note: I tend to lump these all together because they have a lot in common and I’ll be using the term Safety Differently for the rest of this article.

Maybe you’ve noticed that same increase in chatter about and interest in Safety Differently yourself lately.

Not so long ago, I “listened in” on a thoughtful and interesting discussion on LinkedIn in which people were discussing Safety Differently. One of the primary issues in the discussion was whether or not Safety Differently was really any different that “traditional” safety.

Ron Gantt, as he often does, entered the fray and presented a comprehensive, eloquent answer in which he suggested that Safety Differently really is different than traditional safety. (I should also note that many people who contributed to this discussion were very thoughtful–it was one of those times when you realized that a social media network like LinkedIn really can be a great community where passionate, informed professionals exchange views and opinions in a productive, civil, respectful manner.)

I was pretty impressed, and I asked Ron if we could do an interview in which he presents his views on Safety Differently. Ron was kind enough to agree, as he has in the past as well, and we’re very grateful to him for his contributions below. For those of you not familiar with Ron, check out the SafetyDifferently.com website that he edits and keep an eye out for him at safety and similar conferences–he’s an engaging and persuasive speaker. You can also find additional information about Ron at the bottom of this article.

And now, let’s get to talking to Ron about Safety Differently.

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Here’s another one of our OSHA Basics series of articles.

In this one, we’re going to explain what a “vertical” standard is and what a “horizontal” standard is.

If that catches your attention or piques your curiosity, read on!

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Did you know that there are about 3,000 new cases of mesothelioma, a disorder associated with exposure to asbestos, every year (in the US)? It’s true.

This is a high number, to be sure. And that high number becomes even more grave when you realize that diagnosed patients have a life expectancy of 12-21 months after diagnosis, that only 23% live longer than a year after diagnosis, and that on average, there are 2,500 mesothelioma related deaths in a year.

I recently met up with Shawn Tallet, a Health Advocate with the Mesothelioma and Asbestos Awareness Center (MAAC), and he shared those numbers above with me. Shawn’s been nice enough to tell us a little more about asbestos, asbestos exposure in the workplace, and mesothelioma in the interview below. Our thanks to Shawn, to the MAAC, and to all the good people working to help prevent asbestos-related illness and to help those who do suffer from it.

In addition to the information below, I’d point you to the MAAC’s blog, which has a lot of helpful articles on the topic. And we’ve included a short sample of our own Online Asbestos Awareness Safety Training Course at the bottom of this article as well.

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Here’s another quick article in our OSHA Basics series, in which we explain basic, ground-level information about OSHA that you may not know. Hey, none of us were born with this information and you’ve got to learn it somewhere, right?

In this article, we’re going to explain what an OSHA Directive is. We hope you’ll find this helpful. They’re definitely good to know about in the context of OSHA inspections.

And with that to pique your curiosity, let’s get started.

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As part of our OSHA Basics series, in which we explain some basic information about OSHA, we’re turning our attention to OSHA’s letters of interpretation.

If you’ve never heard of a letter of interpretation, they’re worth knowing about.

Or, maybe you’ve heard of them, but have always been a little curious about what they are. If that’s the case with you, we think we can help you out.

Or maybe you’re just curious about how to find OSHA’s letters of interpretations so you can read them yourself. Again, we’ve got you covered.

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