Even as more women work in safety, the issue of gender bias remains a major concern.
Whether it’s lower salaries, fewer job opportunities, or a lack of resources, gender bias has put women at a clear disadvantage in the workplace. Fortunately, there is guidance available to help women in safety avoid these roadblocks.
Gender bias is the focus of the first installment of EHS Daily Advisor’s Breaking Safety Glass webinar series, hosted by Amy Roosa, founder and CEO of The Safety Rack, on Thursday, February 20 at 2 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Breaking Safety Glass is a six-part series that gives women safety professionals the much-needed space to vocalize their needs, develop their careers, and challenge the status quo in a male-populated industry, guided by an expert and influencer in the industry.
Breaking Safety Glass also provides women in safety with additional resources alongside the webinars. In a previously published Q&A with Christina Roll, MS, CIH, CSP, Senior Risk Consultant, at AXA XL, read how Roll addresses gender bias and its impact.
Q: What are some EHS areas in which men and women aren’t being treated equally in the workplace?
Roll: Unfortunately, a lot. There are a lot of research articles and surveys out there that show unequal treatment between men and women. Salary is a big one. A salary survey by National Safety Council shows a $20,000 difference in salaries with men making more. There is also the fact that biases against women exist at all levels of organizations which impact our career progression and opportunities.
The “Gender Initiative” within the Harvard Business School has conducted extensive research studies on this and have found biases in hiring and promotions where women simply aren’t being considered because it’s assumed they wouldn’t want the challenge, or their family commitments would keep them from succeeding. That may sound like a company-level item, but if EHS leaders are hiring team members, they have a voice and a part to play.
Then there are things like the lack of resources for women (i.e., sponsors and role models, proper-fitting PPE) that can put them at a disadvantage. I admit, and want to be clear, that a huge amount of work has been done to address these issues over the past several years, but evidence exists that we still have a long way to go.
Q: How can safety leaders prioritize gender equality in their workplaces?
Roll: I have to start by saying that gender equality must be a company priority, not just an EHS priority. But EHS leaders can be a key player and promoter of gender equality in a number of ways. They can ensure there are adequate resources for both men and women, including PPE but also basic needs as separate restrooms and bathing facilities. They need to make sure hazards that are specific to women OR men need to be addressed and controlled the same as those that affect everyone. Additionally, they have to ensure that the controls implemented are able to be used by both men and women. Are they positioned in a way that everyone can reach or access them? Are they appropriate in size so that everyone can use them correctly? It also takes smaller things such as addressing large groups as “folks” or “everyone” instead of “guys.” Consider the use of more inclusive words or language used in safety posters or announcements.
Q: Why is it important to have women working in EHS?
Roll: Having diversity and inclusion within the EHS profession is essential to our success. Women relate to people differently than their male counterparts, which can lead to a more inclusive environment. They can bring perspectives to situations that are unique to women, which again can lead to more inclusivity and can also allow for better solutions. Having women as EHS leaders can help other women in EHS by being role models and mentors, which makes the profession as a whole stronger. At the end of the day, it’s gender equality, gender equity, diversity, and inclusion that is important to our companies, our employees, our teammates, and the world around us.
Join us
To get more insight into the issue and share your concerns and ideas, join us on February 20 for Shattering Gender Bias in the Safety Industry and learn the strategies to break through the barriers.
Joining Amy Roosa in a panel discussion are:
- Amanda Rawls, EHS Regional Director at KPA
- Linden Terpstra, CEO and founder of EHS Support Source
- Meghna Dhawan, EHS Leader at Zoetis
Register to attend Breaking Safety Glass here. Attendees are invited to participate actively, ask questions, share insights, and network with each other.
This series is sponsored by KPA.