Parade of Homes featuring the best of new homes in Manitoba, Canada
Issue link: http://publications.winnipegfreepress.com/i/161409
Women in Construction Women in Construction Brandy Dobson Danielle Ritchie Danielle Ritchie, a safety officer with Qualico Homes, agrees that women have made great strides since she got into the business 17 years ago. "When I started, I think I got a bit of resistance," she says. But as she was able to prove that she was knowledgeable, capable and professional, her male colleagues began to seek out her opinions. "In general, the men are really supportive," she says. Owner Safecon Solutions Safety Officer Qualico Homes Like Dobson, Ritchie didn't originally intend to go into the field. But while she was earning a bachelor's degree in architecture at the University of Manitoba, she became increasingly interested in the mechanics of construction. She went on to earn a diploma in construction and landed a job in the purchasing department of a company that later made her its first female site supervisor. Ritchie credits her former manager, Gary Lemay, for encouraging her to pursue a role in construction safety. "I was very pleased that he realized my potential," she says. 'Over the last five years women have started increasing in every trade and on every site.' In her current role, Ritchie is responsible for keeping employees safe on job sites and ensuring that homes meet regulations, codes and safety requirements. She schedules and organizes all material, labour and trades for every aspect of a build. Dobson, who has two staff members — another safety officer and an office administrator — says the service is especially valuable for small contractors who don't have the resources to hire an in-house professional. Over the past two decades, she's seen many changes in the industry, most of them good. Regulations are much more strict and, as a result, workplaces are safer. But there are still challenges. Dobson says companies with well-established routines often find it difficult to implement new safety practices, especially when they involve breaking bad habits and adopting new habits, such as remembering to wear special equipment. She's also seen a vast change in how women are viewed in the industry. When she started out, she faced some opposition from male colleagues who frequently challenged her knowledge. Fortunately, attitudes have improved as women continue to pour into the field and earn respect. In fact these days, Dobson often hears from male peers that women safety officers have better success at getting construction crews to comply with regulations. "It's really great to see that women are getting into construction," she says. "Over the last five years women have started increasing in every trade and on every site." At any given time, she might be overseeing around 30 homes under construction. She ensures that workers comply with core safety issues like wearing protective gear and using equipment appropriately. And when necessary, she'll even jump in herself to make sure a job gets done on time. "I like the hands-on part. Seeing a house go up from basement to roof — it's not an abstract; it's something you physically see." Her favourite part of the job comes once a house is completed and she walks the owners through their new home. Ritchie explains how the home's furnace, wiring and exhaust systems work and shows them how to use special features. It's at those moments — when she can see and touch something she helped build — that she feels most satisfied. And like Dobson, she encourages women who are considering a career in construction to go for it. "There's nothing that should stop you." Parade of Homes Fall 2013 45