Promoting Safety and Well-being among Sheet Metal Worker Women through Mentoring
Marissa Baker
University of Washington
[email protected]
Abstract:
The percentage of female workers in constructions’ skilled trades remains dismally low — 3 percent. In addition to facing the industry’s well-known safety and health risks, tradeswomen are subjected to discrimination, harassment, and skills under-utilization. As a result, they have increased risk for injury, stress-related health effects, and high attrition rates from apprenticeship programs, all of which perpetuate their minority status. To help change these conditions, this project is developing and disseminating a mentorship program through local unions of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers and will evaluate its success in reducing women’s health and safety risks, including work stress, and in improving retention.