Women’s Day: Role of women in pushing forward workplace health, safety agenda.

Women have played a vital role in advocating for stronger regulations, enhancing workplace protocols, and ensuring safety compliance and standards that protect all workers. The participation of women in leadership, research, and advocacy have significantly shaped the field of occupational health and safety.

I will love to delve into how women have pushed and are still pushing the safety agenda and standards forward and safety standard implementation.

Women have been at the forefront of advocating for comprehensive safety protocols that address both physical and mental well-being in the workplace. 

Their efforts have been crucial in enhancing Compliance, by advocating for stricter compliance with international safety standards such as ISO 45001:2018 and OSHA regulations and in our Cameroonian context, the Decree 039, (Order No. 039/MTPS/IMT of 26 November 1984) which lays down the basic general rules on health and safety at the workplace with a view to protecting the health of workers as effectively as possible.

Women have been seen in R&D especially in the development of software programs and apps that will facilitate the reporting and follow-up and closure of NC within the company, Research and Innovation in innovating safety solutions that address these challenges.

Pushing forth safety standards

Women’s contributions to safety standards have been vital in setting benchmarks for occupational health and safety globally. Key areas of impact include the presence of Adele L. Adams, who is the Attorney and certified Mine safety Professional and known for her expertise in Regulatory compliance in her work in representing clients in matters related to OSHA MSHA, and has been a strong advocate for implementing rigorous safety standards in high risk industries like mining, construction to name a few. She has also contributed to policy making by providing expert testimony to congress on Occupational health and safety issues, influencing legislation that strengthens workplace standards

We look at Lorraine Martin, who is president and CEO of the NSC National Safet Council and American Non profit organization with a century long legacy of eliminating preventive death injuries. Lorraine has been a trailblazer in pushing forth safety standards through initiatives like Work to Zero aimed at eliminating workplace fatalities using tech by 2050. Under her reign, the NSC has expanded its focus to include opioids safety, transportation safety and community-based safety standards.

Rosa Antonia Carrillo a Safety leadership expert and author, known for her work on psychological safety and its role in preventing workplace accidents. Her book, The Relationship Factor in Safety Leadership, emphasizes the importance of trust and open communication in achieving high safety standards. She has been a leading advocate for integrating psychosocial risk factors into safety standards, arguing that a lack of psychological safety can undermine even the best physical safety protocols. Her approach has influenced many organizations to adopt comprehensive safety management systems that address both physical and psychological risks.

From Cameroon, through Africa to the world we have woman creating impact within this sector, not only ensuring that lives are safe, but involved in implementing standards, carrying out safety compliance audits, authors of OH&S book especially for our secondary and high schools for students to have a base and solid understanding of what OH&S is all about and the simplest forms of implementation.

As we celebrate International Women’s Day, it’s crucial to recognize the vital role women play in pushing forward the safety agenda and raising the bar for safety standards, being at the forefront of advocacy, leadership, and policy implementation, driving significant improvements in workplace safety across the continent and globally. Their leadership, expertise, and unwavering commitment to occupational health and safety have not only saved lives but also paved the way for a safer, more inclusive workplace for all. By continuing to support and elevate women’s voices in this field, we can build on these achievements and create even stronger safety cultures worldwide.

These influential women have significantly advanced occupational health and safety standards across Africa, setting benchmarks in their respective fields. Their leadership and commitment to safety have not only protected workers but also paved the way for a more inclusive and safer work environment on the continent. As we celebrate International Women’s Day, it’s crucial to recognize and support the vital role of women in shaping the future of workplace safety in Africa and beyond.

By Maryline Allo Kika Ade: 

She is a seasoned Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE) professional with significant industry expertise. She has progressed from an HSE officer to senior roles throughout her career, accumulating years of experience in construction safety, onshore oil and gas safety, gas pipeline construction safety, and food/commodity safety. Maryline possesses a wealth of knowledge in developing and implementing best practices and HSSEQ operational excellence standards, as well as demonstrating strong safety leadership. She is a Certified Safety Professional CSP) and an Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) expert with over a decade of experience. 

Maryline holds the NEBOSH International General Certificate in Occupational Health and Safety, is OSHA certified, and is trained as an internal auditor for ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 (environmental management systems), ISO 45001:2018, and ISO 31000:2018 (risk management). She also has a master's degree in Quality Safety and Environment from the Faculty of Science at the University of Douala.