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Having served as an air traffic controller in the RAF for 12 years, Sam Stevens is no stranger to breaking down barriers in a male-dominated industry. Following the move to health and safety in construction, Stevens shares the challenges she has faced and why more women should consider a career in the industry
What was your route into construction?
During my time in the RAF, I had to take on a secondary duty, and this is where I was introduced to health and safety.
This experience ignited my passion for the field, so after leaving the RAF, I decided to pursue this as a career.
As a woman with experience in largely male spaces, I had learned early on that knowing your stuff was important to gain respect. This is something I have taken into all of my roles post-RAF
Through an RAF-funded resettlement programme, I completed my National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) certificate, which is a foundation qualification.
I was then looking for hands-on experience, and I saw a health and safety consultancy was recruiting for a PA. I applied in the hopes I could progress through the ranks.
After 17 years there, I worked my way up to head of construction and senior risk manager before taking the position of safety, health, environment and quality (SHEQ) managerat Chestnut Homes.
What are your day-to-day responsibilities?
My day-to-day role varies a lot, as it depends on what phase of the planning and building process we are in.
Some days I can be compiling pre-construction information documents and construction phase plans for our sites; other days I will be looking at various trends and ways we can improve or avoid future health and safety incidents.
I oversee the health and safety of the employees and contractors across the sites, as well as the head office.
This includes compiling and reviewing company policies and procedures, doing risk assessments and reviewing site documentation from contractors to ensure they have suitable health and safety procedures and training in place.
If there is an accident or issue on site, it is my job to do an investigation and file these reports – and look at how we can improve for the future.
What do you enjoy most about your role?
Alongside the legal side of health and safety, I also particularly enjoy the fact that my role covers many different aspects and that construction sites change very quickly – this keeps the job interesting.
Also, at Chestnut Homes we have worked with many of our contractors for several years and they have become part of the team. That means they buy into our safety culture and support us, which is particularly helpful for me.
What was the most challenging aspect of your transition from a career in the RAF?
Strangely, the most challenging aspect was coming from an autocratic working environment, where strict procedures had to be followed by everyone, to a customer-focused environment where there is a delicate balance to be found between ensuring a business can be compliant, while also remaining profitable. That was a steep learning curve, for sure.
If there is an accident or issue on site, it is my job to do an investigation and file reports – and look at how we can improve for the future
As a woman with experience in largely male spaces, I had learned early on that knowing your stuff was important to gain respect. This is something I have taken into all of my roles post-RAF.
What action should industry leaders take to help attract more women to construction?
Construction is still seen as a male-dominated industry and most people think of builders [when they contemplate careers in the industry], but there’s so much more to consider.
We employ designers, engineers, plant operators, quantity surveyors, sales personnel, site managers – it’s not just about the trades.
It’s important for industry leaders to make sure they’re showcasing these different opportunities and encouraging this through training and education early on.
