Female Leaders in Safety Risk Management
As events unfold around the world, evident remarkable strides have been recorded in some sectors, while others continue to experience slow progress. Even at that, some sectors remain defiant in aligning to gender inclusion. While growing concerns increase regarding closing the corporate gender gap, with some progress made, a clear disparity still exist. In most climes today, women are underrepresented in safety and risk management affairs. This unconscious bias and social stereotyping depicts a sad obstacle women continue to encounter in safety issues. It is no longer an open secret that women continue to struggle in the safety sector than in other areas when it comes to attaining coveted leadership roles. Paradoxically, women account for less than 5 percent of safety roles. This “workforce gap” means most workplaces are prone and susceptible to all sorts of personal and corporate risks.
Ironically, there is a growing perception that the safety sector is an “old boys club” made up middle-aged men adorned in high visible jackets, wielding a clipboard and prohibiting workers with the “do’s and don’ts” in a commanding fashion. This translates to the difficult and unpalatable terrain a woman must cope and survive in and convincingly win the hearts of men that she can equally fit in. This conundrum continues to play in almost all other spheres of life but is more severe in the safety profession.
As the 22nd century gradually unfolds, it is promising that the world will witness a great prominence of women as the embargo and tradition that has kept women in suppression gradually fades away. Where women are saddled with leadership roles, there is distinct evidence of safe practices, which in turn enhances productivity, greater innovation, more effective risk management, safer operations, and a better value of propositions for stakeholders in social, financial and environmental terms. It is on hat ground that we lend our voice in clamouring for this transformation. It is time to bridge the divide.
At Safety Consultants and Solutions Provider (SCSP) our resolution on this mandate is sure. To start with, we admonish the few women in the safety industry to brace up and doggedly live up to expectation so as to be role models and mentors to new entrants into the sector. Women in senior leadership position in the safety world are to serve as an inspiration for the next generation of younger talent. (Mentor and Mentee experience). Their steadfast prominence is a door opener and a boost to other women as it consciously attracts other women into the fold. We equally charge professionals and information dissemination outlets to raise the tempo of awareness and preach the goodwill that safety is a good career for women. This can help send a positive message and reawaken many to have passion for jobs in the sector. It is also imperative that female safety leaders should form a strong network with periodic meetings to promote togetherness and chart a common ground on a frontier for gender inclusion and training opportunities. In that vein, we applaud the Association of Nigerian Women Safety Professionals (ANWOSAP) and other sister agencies in bring female safety officers together.
From us at Safety Consultants and Solutions Provider (SCSP) we are passionate for a world where women are saddled with strategic positions and feel comfortable in contributing insights for effective mitigation on feminine risks and all forms of gender stereotypes and create a safe world where everyone can succeed.
