Ashley Conrad
“I was motivated to earn my Gold Seal Certification through my mentor. She mentioned it was something I should have under my belt. After receiving my certification when I meet with other Health and Safety personnel in the industry, they see that I am Gold Seal Certified and it adds value and credibility to my work, decision making, and knowledge. It makes me feel good to be recognized.”
Ashley Conrad, GSC, Safety Coordinator, rcs construction
Ashley is a Safety Coordinator with rcs Construction Inc. Her role has her accomplishing a variety of tasks on a daily basis, including: scheduling training such as first aid training and fall protection, JOHS committee meetings, site inspections, toolbox talks, etc. Furthermore, Ashley’s work is split between a multitude of different sites. “We’re located all around Atlantic Canada, including Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and New Brunswick. Recently, we just finished a project in Prince Edward Island. The job sites I work at are a variety of sizes, from small to large, and I visit all of them”.
Ashley began working towards safety in construction after her degree from Saint Mary’s University. Ashley’s father encouraged her to pursue health and safety as a post-graduate option. “While I was completing my degree, I took some electives in safety and I really enjoyed it. I then noticed that the Nova Scotia Community College had a Health and Safety Program and that’s what I pursued.” While Ashley was completing her education, her brother suffered from the misfortune of an injury on the job site. “After my brother was injured I was still completing the program. His accident fueled me to want to focus on construction safety because he was injured on a construction site.”
Working in construction did not come without challenges for Ashley. As a young woman employed in a male dominated industry, she felt slightly intimidated. However, that never stopped her from wanting to do her very best to help her peers with accident and injury prevention. “I have experience working with the public through previous jobs. My past work experience gave me the necessary skills to be able to talk to people and know how to diffuse a situation, if needed. I’m not on the job site to tell workers how to do their jobs, but I focus on helping them accomplish their roles safely. I’m there to make sure they go home to their families at night.” Ashley has come a long way in her construction career, earning her Gold Seal Certification in January 2017.
“It sets you apart. People recognize the designation. It’s the next step in your career. It displays the work you’re putting into it. It’s a great achievement, not only on a personal level but on a professional level too.”