35 minute read
Forging Ahead
from CCR Issue 9-2022
Women and the fight to fend off occupational risks
By Jonathan Damashek
` Like most trade professions, men make up most of the workforce in the construction industry. Although you may be surprised to learn how many women work in construction, the demographics of construction workers could soon shift further toward more inclusivity. In mid-2022, the Biden Administration launched the Talent Pipeline Challenge, a new initiative for the equitable development of the infrastructure workforce. The challenge encourages employers, training providers, and state and local governments to not only bring on workers but create more pathways for women and people of color to join all infrastructure sectors, including construction.
Breaking Ground for More Women in Construction
This push for hiring also comes during a nationwide shortage of construction laborers, with over half a million residential and nonresidential construction positions sitting unfilled. More women in construction could help bridge this gap.
Just over 57% of all women participate in the labor force: however, “women were substantially underrepresented (relative to their share of total employment) in manufacturing (29.5%), agriculture (27.7%), transportation and utilities (24.1%), mining (14.5%), and construction (10.%),” according to the latest databook from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Of the 11% of women in construction, many hold administrative and leadership positions, while around 100,000 are laborers on the front lines of a job site— research from the Institute for Women’s Policy shows this is a significant increase in female laborers since 2016, indicating more room to grow over the coming years.
Is Construction More Dangerous for Women in the Field?
Female construction workers may face more risk of injury on the job compared to their male counterparts. Although the Bureau of Labor Statistics collects and reports comprehensive data on occupational fatal and nonfatal injuries among construction workers, it is not granular enough to reveal much about how many women are hurt or killed in construction jobs. In a report by the New York Committee for Occupational Safety and Health (NYCOSH), one study found that women had higher rates of sprains, strains, and nerve conditions of the wrist and forearm than men. But overall, the lack of data highlights a need for further research and a breakdown of workplace injury data on women specifically.
While data on women hurt or killed in construction accidents is sparse, the NYCOSH report explored some other risks women in construction face, such as:
Challenging Ergonomics — The physical differences between men and women can pose difficulties for women in construction jobs since most of the common equipment and tools used are designed for larger hands and overall stronger body types. When women are not provided proper tools or are pushed beyond their physical limits, they face a greater risk of injury.
Improper Personal Protective Equip-
ment (PPE) — In addition to challenges using construction tools and equipment, women can also be hurt if they do not have proper PPE for the job, such as hats, boots, and high visibility vests. OSHA states that PPE should be fitted to each worker’s body measurements and many sizes are available—when it comes to PPE, one size does not fit all.
Reproductive Hazards — Little data exists on how reproductive hazards affect women who are pregnant or may become pregnant. Common construction site hazards such as dust, lead, and other chemicals are dangerous for all construction workers but may pose a greater risk to expectant mothers. CDC suggests this risk can be mitigated with proper PPE and by closely following safety practices in the workplace, but women still face health exposure.
Inadequate Training — In 1999, an OSHA report documented the concerns of some female construction workers regarding inadequate training, lack of support, and less “general acceptance” and trust from male colleagues to learn new skills or complete tasks. When women are not given the same opportunities for mentorship and coaching from coworkers and superiors, there’s a greater chance they won’t receive critical information about their work, creating a greater chance for injury. A Brighter Future for Women in Construction?
Everyone in the construction industry has a responsibility to keep female workers safe, from employer and labor unions to safety and regulatory agencies. Women have come a long way in terms of representation in historically male-dominated fields, but with more potentially joining the construction workforce, steps should be taken to ensure that those fields are as safe for them as they are for their male colleagues.
A brief by the Institute for Women’s Policy emphasizes the value of more women joining construction and other trades: “Having clear data can create accountability and help policymakers ensure that tradeswomen have access to sustainable careers,
Other Challenges for Women in Construction
Beyond physical dangers, women in construction also can face stressful or even hostile work environments. Although apprenticeships in male-dominated industries can offer better-paying opportunities than stereotypical “women’s work,” women at many levels—from laborers to the C-suite—unfortunately report being denied training or experiencing sexual harassment in training and on the job.
with adequate work hours, workplace policies that support work/family balance, comprehensive on-the-job training and freedom from bias and sexual and racial harassment. The industry as a whole benefits greatly from access to the skilled work of tradeswomen.”
Despite the risks and challenges women in construction face, trade workers are in high demand, and employers are raising pay to help meet the call—particularly in the homebuilding sector, where the rate of wage growth is at its highest in more than 40 years. The general outlook for growth in the construction industry is on par with other trades, but the immediate need and relative ease of entry makes a career in construction worth considering.n
` Jonathan Damashek is co-founder of Hecht, Kleeger & Damashek P.C., a personal injury law firm based in Manhattan.
Women-directed initiates spotlight and honor deserving females advancing the built environment
By Cynthia Phifer Kracauer
` Women are leading innovative solutions to challenging situations in all aspects of construction, architecture and design. They are delivering concepts and practices to withstand the effects of climate change. Advancing smart real estate development. Planning and overseeing business development and complex projects. Developing creative and effective practices through mentorship. Women are behind successful collaborations among construction professionals, city planners and community stakeholders.
Yet, too often, these women are overlooked when they should be recognized and celebrated. Certainly, a more gender-balanced industry that provides equal opportunities and promotions for all genders would be best. Many of us are working toward that through various industry and in-house programs, organization and association initiatives, and media outreach. Awards programs also help put the spotlight on women in construction, architecture, and design. Women like Fiona Cousins, Chair of the Americas for the global engineering and design giant Arup. Judy Kessler, Consultant to Vornado who is known for leading large-scale building projects and supporting housing for low- and moderate-income residents, including the formerly homeless. J. Meejin Yoon, dean of Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art and Planning and one of the founding partners of the architecture and design firm Höweler + Yoon. They, along with three other women—Adrienne Hepler, founder of owner’s representative and project management firm Envoie Projects; Elaine Molinar, managing partner of the US practice for Snøhetta, an acclaimed 100-person interdisciplinary architecture, landscape, and interior design studio with a focus on well-being; and Brennan Gilbane Koch, Director, Strategic Partnerships and Client Relations for Gilbane Building Company—are being honored by the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation’s 2022 BEVY Leadership Awards.
Just as Beverly Willis, FAIA, was a pioneer of her time, these pillars of the construction, architecture, and industry— along with the women before them who have been recognized by the BEVY Leadership Awards’ decade of honoring women of distinction—are changing the culture of the built environment professions. They are elevating the roles of women leaders in varied fields through their powerful approaches to advancing the built environment. Consider engineer Fiona Cousins whose contributions to iconic projects worldwide include the US Embassy in London and New York City’s Fulton Street Station. Her work as a valued advisor is marked by her counsel on critical climate legislation for New York City’s recent Local Law 97. She has served as the Chair of the US Green Building Council and earned such honors as LEED Fellow and the AIA New York Chapter’s Award of Merit in 2017.
And, as the lead for Arup Americas she’s advancing the firm’s commitments to achieving net-zero emissions across its entire operations by 2030 and the company’s undertaking of whole lifecycle carbon assessments for significant building projects. Still, it is one thing to honor outstanding women with our distinguished award. It’s another to do it with the support of female colleagues. The BEVY Leadership Awards’ co-chairs, Jennifer Stone and Ebbie Wisecarver are two powerhouses that add to the program’s might. An advocate for exceptional design and collaborative problem-solving, Jennifer Stone, AIA, is advancing optimal outcomes by bringing diverse talents together in her role as a partner at Robert A.M. Stern Architects. Ebbie Wisecarver is influencing workplace culture by promoting gender equality as the senior vice president and head of
Here’s more:
J. Meejin Yoon’s leading work and research on the intersections between architecture, urbanism, technology, and the public realm have furthered cultural buildings and public spaces, like the Institute of Democracy and the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers at the University of Virginia, and the MIT Museum at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. A published author, Yoon has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters in the field of architecture, the highest recognition of artistic merit in the United States.
Judy Kessler has facilitated the comprehensive vision for improvements to Penn Station in New York, with more than $2 billion of privately funded projects above grade and $3 billion of publicly funded and PPP projects in Penn Station and the transit network below. She has led pioneering projects, such as 15 Central Park West condominium as a development executive for Zeckendorf Development, and performed early work on what would later become the Moynihan Train Hall as a project director at Tishman Urban Development Corp.
Adrienne Hepler’s strategic oversight and planning for complex capital projects puts cultural, mission-driven and not-for- profit clients on top. Her large teams navigate varied capital projects through regulatory reviews and approvals to ensure the projects’ timely completion and adherence to budgets.
Elaine Molinar has led the design of cultural projects across the globe, including the Bibiliotheca Alexandrina, the Norwegian National Opera and Ballet, and the National September 11th Memorial Museum Pavilion. Her decades-long commitment to social and physical well-being is the cornerstone of programs she’s cultivated in-house for Snøhetta and in connection to independent outside groups. Molinar furthers the power of equity, diversity, and inclusion by speaking about these issues to audiences that range from student and commercial groups to national and international public officials.
Brennan Gilbane Koch is director, strategic partnerships and client relations for Gilbane Building Company, a global integrated construction and facility management services firm.
global design at WeWork, where she also is the executive sponsor of Women of WeWork, the company’s employee resource entity. Having the support of sponsors matters, too. Each one affirms the value of women’s contributions in the construction industry and the importance of recognizing their valuable work. This year, the law firm Zetlin & De Chiara, is championing women as a sponsor for the BEVY Leadership Awards, as are real estate developer and manager Brookfield Properties, engineering firms Thornton Tomasetti and Arup, and architecture companies SHoP, Robert A.M. Stern Architects, Dattner Architects and Skidmore Owings & Merrill (SOM). I am glad to see a growing momentum in the impact of women and diversity in general in the construction and architecture industry. The more we recognize leading contributions, the more responsive and effective our work will be in the built environment.n ` Cynthia Phifer Kracauer is Executive Director of the Beverly Willis Architecture Foundation.
Leading the charge
Science says women enhance team effectiveness, and other things intuition told me
By Marissa Dionne Mead
` For architects working in multiple project sectors, one of the unexpectedly rewarding aspects of the job is learning about our clients and their work. Occasionally, for the most curious of us, we take a deep dive into particular fields of study and we come away with an enhanced appreciation for our clients’ contributions to the world.
In this exploration, we often gain enough newly found knowledge to inspire dinner conversations on topics as interesting and varied as eSports, the Montessori Method or Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. Rarer though is the occasion to stumble upon a concept that resonates meaningfully with our own profession and that challenges or alters our own perceptions of how we work in the industry of architecture and design. A recent project for a robotics lab led me to an exploration of self-organizing systems in nature referred to as collective intelligence. Imagine schools of fish or mound-building ants that work collaboratively and collectively to ensure protection or successfully complete a task. Essentially, collective intelligence is a measurement of the team’s effectiveness, and the idea applies to human groups as well. Since almost every profession relies on the work of teams, data on what makes a good team is crucial information. What I found is that studies on collective IQ have been performed repeatedly. In 2010, MIT published a report outlining some of the findings: In two studies with 699 people, working in groups of two to five, we find converging evidence of a general collective intelligence factor that explains a group’s performance on a wide variety of tasks. This “C factor” is not strongly correlated with the average or maximum individual intelligence of group members, but is correlated with the average social sensitivity of group members, the equality in distribution of conversational turn-taking, and the proportion of females in the group.* In other words, groups performed better when they were composed of members who were more empathetic, more egalitarian and more female. In the last decade our architecture firm has embraced a philosophy that “all of us are better than any one of us.” It is a belief that a community is better at solving its own challenges than any one individual. We have embraced this both internally in how we structure our project teams, as well as externally in how we include a broad range of stakeholders in envisioning a project. The more people have a chance to share their perspective on what is needed in a project, the less likely we are to miss something important in the design. And while this collaborative sentiment is felt deeply in our ranks, we have not necessarily grounded it in scientific data. But there was proof in witnessing the success of sensitive projects that emerged from profound collaborative efforts. It is important to note that the burgeoning of this philosophy at our firm occurred in concert with the increase in female participation and leadership within the office. The proportion of women in the architecture industry, and especially at leadership levels, continues to lag behind graduation rates. But it is increasing. The acceptance of female expertise in this industry has been a measured rise, but my perspective—15 years in—is that the impact is palpable. Firms are actively marketing their collaboration strategies
and preference to work with, as opposed to for, communities. We are leaving behind the idea of the “lone genius” and embracing the concept of collaborative engagement. And our projects are better for it. My feeling had been that correlation between female participation, improved collaboration, and project success were not unrelated. And it turns out, it’s not just my feelings: it’s science. I have also become aware of the 2019 best seller advocating cognitive diversity, Rebel Ideas: “The Power of Diverse Thinking” by Matthew Syed. He effectively shifts the diversity conversation from one about political correctness to one about performance and innovation. By offering up stories, interviews and research, he illuminates how blind spots, echo chambers, and the pleasure our brains experience when someone confirms our way of thinking obstruct new solutions to complex problems. As a mother of young children, the conclusions of these studies have steadied the constant uncertainty about my value to the industry. What I should know, and what every woman should know, is that there is a power in our lived experience and in those traits traditionally considered feminine, such as nurturance, supportiveness and cooperation. Innate social sensitivity, emotional intelligence and an egalitarian leadership style are valuable characteristics that translate to better team cohesion. Diversity fosters reinvention and growth. These equate to improved execution in many standard metrics of business performance. The takeaway is simple—when organizations bring more women and diversity to the table, they increase their odds for success.n
` Marissa Dionne Mead, AIA, NOMA, LEED AP, is an Associate Principal and Director of Art Integration at Svigals + Partners, an architecture + art firm based in New Haven, Connecticut, as well as a founding principal of art studio, Atelier Cue.
* Woolley A., Chabris C. F., Pentland A., Hashmi N., Malone T. W., Evidence for a collective intelligence factor in the performance of human groups. Science 330, 6004 (2010).
Samantha Sprole
Landing on construction
Reflecting on my journey across the globe
By Samantha Sprole
` I do not come from a lineage of tradesmen and women, nor did I ever think as a young person who I would find a home in construction. Instead, I wandered through a thousand interests, a hundred places, through multiple schools and several career paths before arriving at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 429 in Nashville. Here, with my brothers and sisters in the trade, I have discovered how a good livelihood can intersect with one’s innermost values, a duty to one’s community, and the siren call to build a better future before it’s too late. With some luck, my story of stumbling through life and onto a construction site will help more young women envision themselves in full command of their future, even in a male-dominated industry. After almost eight years in higher education, I have become a firm believer in the earn-while-you-learn philosophy of the building trades. Today, I am a proud first-year apprentice electrician, studying at the Nashville Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NEJATC) while at the same time working 60-hour weeks with Rosendin, one of the largest
employee-owned electrical contractors in the country. Week after week, hundreds of my fellow workers and I build the largest data center in Tennessee, while two nights a week I sit in class and learn the theory behind my craft. I’m happy to share the story of how I got here.
My Journey to Now
I earned a bachelor's degree in philosophy at the age of 19. Not wanting to go straight to graduate school to focus on ethics in the abstract, I decided to move to a fully income-sharing commune in rural Virginia. For two years, I helped cultivate food and maintain buildings and vehicles on those 400-plus acres shared by 100 people. It was here that I discovered my love for the craft trades. Still, by the age of 21, I was ready to set off on my own again.
I worked as an educator for the next several years, receiving a master's degree in education while teaching English in Shanghai, China. Next, I pursued another master's degree in social science research in Taipei, Taiwan, focused on environmental standards in the island's heavy industry. My background in English language arts led me to edit for professors, graduate students and eventually the now-defunct China Post newspaper. But after five years of wandering, living the expatriate life in Asia plus several months in central Europe, I felt determined to find a home where I could potentially make a difference. Moreover, years spent hitting the books and toiling away behind computers soon took their toll on my spiritual well-being and my physical health. I longed to realign my work life, moral convictions, and a sense of community, like what I experienced on the commune. By 2021, I was ready to return to a more active lifestyle.
Joining An Apprenticeship Program
Thankfully, I discovered the Music City Construction Careers (MC3) pre-apprenticeship program while emerging from the coronavirus lockdown. Mingling with representatives from several union trades, I realized how the culture of trade union solidarity could potentially be that missing link, my gateway to integrating my values and my work. I was not completely sold on walking the electrician’s path, however, until I met the president of local 429, Kim Sansom. She was teaching a class for the MC3 program,
and she happened to ask me what trade I was considering. I told her about sheet metal work, because of the intricate designs and unique aesthetic beauty of architectural sheet metal. After I mentioned this, she led me and some other students through a door into the guts of the NEJATC school. Pointing to perfectly laid out lines of shiny electrical conduit, she described the skill and craftsmanship involved in pulling off these carefully wrought electrical designs—designs that would power the very heart of the building and enable the learning that happens within its walls. I was sold. Moreover, living in the US and seeing the work needed to improve our infrastructure, I realize the centrality of the electrical trade. Power generation and distribution is central to our mission to limit greenhouse gas emissions and transition to ecologically regenerative systems. Even training as an inside wireman, my chosen field contains keys to understanding and innovating what makes our homes livable, our economy moving, and our fingertips able to access the wealth of human knowledge with the stroke of a finger. Now as an apprentice with local 429, I work each day to build a LEEDs Gold-certified data center, powered by 100% renewable energy and using 80% less water than a typical data center. My fellow workers vary widely in age and experience level; I work with teenagers fresh out of high school and with Vietnam veterans nearing retirement. When it comes to the younger workers around me, I am confident that the future of construction will be in the hands of a competent generation of craftspeople less bogged down by the machismo stereotypes that burdened our elders. Now workers discuss things like mental health issues and work-life balance concerns. You are no longer expected to suck it up and grit your teeth rather than ask for help when you need it. My more seasoned male colleagues have also warmly welcomed me on site. A few have told me they are not used to working beside women, but I have found it relatively easy and rewarding to earn their respect by working smart and working hard. My supervisors offer patient instruction and advice, making me much more confident with the tools of my trade—from wire strippers and hydraulic pipe benders to forklifts and flatbed trucks. Now as I embark on the latest stage of my journey, I am inspired by tradeswomen like Kim Sansom who paved the way. Perhaps one day I also will become a mentor to a new generation of craftswomen. Together we can build a more ecologically flourishing world and a healthier, more inclusive construction industry. n
` Samantha Sprole is a first-year apprentice electrician who is studying at the Nashville Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committee (NEJATC).
Strength. Grit. Willingness.
Ushering in change for construction safety
By Michelle Tinsley
` Women make up around 11% of the construction workforce, but as the workforce
shortage continues, that percentage is expected to rise as companies recruit this
untapped resource. Women have historically been hesitant to join skilled trades because the industry was considered men’s work that required strength, grit and a willingness to get dirty. Boy, how have things changed. Modern tools and technology opened doors for women to have a rewarding career in construction, whether they are working in an office, a warehouse or a jobsite. Regardless of a business’s size, every employee and contractor deserves the right to work in an environment where they are safe from physical and mental harm and companies are adapting. That’s why after spending 26 years at a large corporate technology company and a decade investing in small businesses, I decided to shift my focus to better incorporate my personal belief that safety is always the top priority. As the President and COO at YellowBird, I now promote worker health and safety through our two-sided marketplace that connects environmental, health and safety
professionals with companies for a few hours, days or months. Our professionals implement realistic safety measures for businesses of all sizes and work to improve standardization across construction, manufacturing, energy and insurance industries. Operating a small business presents its own individual set of challenges. While some companies may be unable to hire full time safety specialists, the citations, along with potential injuries and fatalities can be avoided by following safety programs, implementing training, and developing safer work environments. Paying for EHS programs “as you go” and staffing it with a quality professional for the task is the way to tap into today’s workforce. YellowBird provides these essential services to keep workers safe and keep workflow moving forward. We even have been hired by subcontractors to assess job sites to make sure they are meeting general contractor standards. Throughout my career, I have noticed the exponential growth in individual and companies’ attentiveness to safety while continuing to meaningfully scale operations. With initial investments into safety training and best practices for every employee, regardless of level, our industry has seen a shift in on-the-job injuries.
Here are my top safety measures to ensure everyone goes home at night to their families, feeling good about their safety:
1 Make Safety One of Your Company’s Top Values
In construction, it is imperative that the workforce is properly trained in safety protocols. Work-related injuries, illness, and fatalities not only hurt morale, but they can also cost a company money through lost time from work stoppages, training workers, damage, and fines. Compliance must be a top priority for people at all levels of the company, from the C-Suite to the veteran worker to the first-year apprentice. Small businesses are no exception. Safety should be a part of daily toolbox talks and formal safety protocols that cover every area from job sites to the lunchroom. Not only does it improve production, but it can also boost recruiting and retention efforts.
2 Host Mandatory Safety Sessions
Employees will do what they see management do and training is no exception. A company’s management team can set an example and show that safety is for everyone, not just for frontline workers. Demonstrate that the entire company is invested in the safety and health of all employees by scheduling safety courses, like the OSHA10 or the OSHA30 for the construction industry, first aid/CPR or a fall awareness class to identify hazards. Investing in employee safety shows the company values its employees.
3 Ensure Access to PPE
Women construction workers may be at a higher risk of injuries if they do not have access to properly fitting PPE including right sized safety glasses, harnesses and hardhats. Not all companies will purchase specialty products made to fit a woman’s frame, but if you work in the industry, it is worth spending your own money and you may be able to write it off on your taxes. Throughout my career, I have noticed the exponential growth in individual and companies’ attentiveness to safety while continuing to meaningfully scale operations.
` A successful professional, Angel Investor and active community member, Michelle Tinsley is President and COO YellowBird.
4 Site Safety Management
Not all contractors can afford a full-time safety professional to enforce regulations and policies, but companies can provide safety oversight and stay in compliance by setting up strong policies and leveraging emerging technologies. If a company is too small to have a full-time safety professional on staff, consider suggesting they hire a consultant to serve as an on-site safety manager to conduct walkthroughs and audits.
5 Incident Response
If an accident does happen, it can be terrifying for employees, especially if on-site managers are not equipped to handle an emergency. It is critical that all employees know what to do in the event of an injury or death. Every company and every job site should have a plan that is readily accessible that gives employees permission to stop working, contact their supervisor, and assess the situation to determine if anyone else is at risk. Safety consultants at YellowBird can respond to emergencies and be available in just a few hours to help get things back on track and in compliance.
As the construction industry adapts to attract a more diverse workforce, companies must consider safety a valuable and crucial part of business operations by making sure every job site implements key steps that ensure ease of access for everyone. Regardless of deadlines and economic pressures, it is imperative to focus on creating a safe work environment that can be standardized across operations. While the necessary safety measures may look different from job to job, the implementation of meaningful safety tactics in the construction industry is an essential part of prompting growth within a small business. Hiring safety experts for short term projects allows teams the flexibility to expand and contract when needed. It can be challenging to find the right team so finding a specialized, online platform like YellowBird can help save time by searching candidates with specific credentials, experience, skills and geography. Compared to hiring through staffing and temp agencies, using an on-demand service can save weeks or months of time spent interviewing and vetting candidates. n
Safety dance
How—and why—women are helping change the construction safety game
By Krista Looney
` When most people hear the phrase “women in construction,” they think about
the ladies with the hands-on jobs—the female welders, equipment operators, and
more. And that’s fantastic. I love that more and more women with the confidence, skills, and passion to pursue those boots-on-the-ground occupations are finding the encouragement and opportunities to do so, and getting some recognition along the way.
But in reality, opportunities for women—for everyone—in construction extend far beyond physical labor. From project managers and estimators to salespeople and product experts to architects and design consultants, there is a mountain of diverse opportunities for anyone who has the drive to join this evolving industry and impact the built environment. As a licensed structural engineer and registered roof consultant at Wallace Design Collective, I interact with the construction industry from a unique niche: forensic investigations and inspections for facilities maintenance. While not involved with the physical work of repairing facilities, I am part of a team that helps building owners get to the bottom of their structure-related facilities maintenance mysteries. We piece together clues, combining structural and roofing expertise with research, observations, and results from non-destructive or limited-destructive testing, to identify issues and develop recommendations designed to keep buildings safe and functional. Since we deal with existing facilities, the evaluation and specifying processes often involve a little creativity. Depending on the damage, we might have to assess structural integrity with calcs and models that account for reduced steel sections at corroded members or load redistribution at damaged concrete. We also will bounce ideas off of contractors and work within a building owner’s budget and operating constraints to come up with innovative, cost-effective design options that will address the issue while minimizing disruption to service. Final reports or repair plans are always developed with safety and operations in mind. So what type of facilities damage do I get to evaluate with my Wallace forensics team? I'm glad you asked:
Moisture Intrusion
Almost nothing is more vexing to a building owner than leaks. Water damages merchandise and creates slip hazards, making leak detection and repair a top priority for most facilities maintenance departments. I have examined my fair share of TPO, PVC, EPDM and metal roofs for holes, open seams, and damaged flashings and surveyed EIFS and block walls for failed sealants and coatings. Tracking down moisture points of entry is tedious, but finding those defects and knowing that your repair recommendations will make a difference is incredibly satisfying.
Wall, Slab or Foundation Damage
Cracks in floor slabs or walls are a close second on a building owner’s list of nuisances. They create trip hazards, discontinuities in the building envelope, and in some cases, looming doubts about structural soundness. Drawing conclusions about underlying cause and risk versus reward for repairs is always a data-heavy, thought-intensive process. Does evidence point to heave, settlement, or something else? Is there damage to structural components, or just slab on grade and architectural stud walls? Is everything constructed as specified? Answering these questions and more while taking into account building use, budget, and future risk help us advise the owner on implementing temporary, on-going maintenance versus. a more costly and invasive permanent solution.
Vehicle Impact
Whether it's forklifts puncturing columns or trucks backing into walls, building damage caused by vehicle impact is more common than you might think. Since the cause is not usually a mystery, we can jump straight into focusing on existing drawings and visual observations to determine if the impacted element is load bearing, whether shoring or cordoning off is required, and the best approach to specifying repairs.
Disaster Response
When a tornado, hurricane or fire strikes, building owners need to understand damage extents as soon as possible so emergency clean-up and construction crews can start safely removing debris and constructing temporary shoring and partitions. Assessments focus on what needs to be done to structural and roofing systems to keep portions of the building safe and operational while performing major repairs or replacements in severely damaged areas. Whether evaluating the structure or roof, the key to disaster response is looking beyond the obvious to search for critical damage that might not be evident to the untrained eye, like broken joist welds caused by uplift or tiny hail fractures in a roofing membrane that will lead to big leaks down the road.
Volume Assessments
Building owners with hundreds or thousands of facilities across the country constantly juggle rolling maintenance schedules with limited budgets. Deciding where to direct funds can leave them overwhelmed. Our team helps owners prioritize maintenance for everything from weathered roofs to aging oil change facilities with spalled concrete and corroded steel. Data from detailed on-site checklists evaluated through our lens of technical expertise allows us to comparatively rank sites and provide recommendations on which sites need to be addressed first, whether sites require full replacement or targeted repairs, and how to best allocate funds.
Post-Repair Inspections
Building owners need to know that they have invested in repairs that will last. For roof replacements or structural repairs, we often are engaged at intermediate and final stages to inspect construction. We will verify that repairs were completed per our drawings and details or create a punch list of deviations to be addressed. Digging into the cause of structural or roofing damage, coming up with creative, budget-conscious solutions that minimize downtime, and inspecting final repairs is rewarding work. And just like every other field in the construction industry, there's room for all in this space. Even so, as a female, I still will come across the occasional comment or double-take. But I usually find that it’s more based on curiosity and surprise than hostility—as in, "Hmm…we've never had a female inspector before." Well now they have. And as more women find their way into all aspects of construction, I think most residual shock and skepticism eventually will fade away. Because at the end of the day, actions speak louder than looks, and great work speaks for itself.n
` Krista Looney is a Structural Engineer and AEC Content Writer at Wallace Design Collective, a consulting firm offering structural and civil engineering, landscape architecture, surveying, and more.
Women in Roofing
By Heidi J. Ellsworth
` Women in roofing? Eight years ago, this was not even a discussion. According to a few, there were token women in the right spots, but what they did not realize was that those women were bringing productivity and success to positions that men were not even understanding. They were running woman-owned companies, without even realizing it.
Executive team from NWIR with Heidi Ellsworth first ever NWiR WORLD Award Winner at NWiR Day 2020!
Today, with the efforts of many women, men and National Women in Roofing (NWIR), there is a renewed understanding, interest and demand for diversity. Women-owned roofing businesses are more prevalent than ever along with women working in and owning manufacturing, distribution and service businesses. Not because of affirmative action but because the roofing industry is understanding that women have played a critical role in the trade not just for decades, but for centuries. Yes, centuries. How many people grew up with parents who owned their own business in a trade. The mom was doing the books and raising families and the dad was “running” the business. Please do not take this wrong but many of us grew up in a construction family and it was an equal opportunity relationship in the family/business dynamic. But in the greater industry or even society, the women (moms) were not recognized as an owner or even partners. Today that is changing, women are seeing the opportunities and recognition to own their businesses or work in any part of the roofing business. While roofing is a conservative trade, it also is one of the most honorable and ethical. The roofing industry continually shows that the heart of the industry is focused on family, loyalty and service. As a women-owned business in roofing, RoofersCoffeeShop has been incredibly active in promoting diversity in the roofing industry. As a founder of NWIR, I have always believed that the true goal is to find a good balance where everyone’s talents are appreciated and support the greater success of the business and industry overall. When the National Women in Roofing association started in 2014 it was a group of women and men who recognized that 2% of women working in the roofing industry were not going to work. They needed to look at attracting more women into the roofing industry and even more importantly how to push a culture of diversity and inclusion so that professionals new to the industry would stay. NWIR was started by a diverse group of women and men who were committed to not only recruiting women into roofing but providing benefits that would keep them in the industry including mentoring, networking and education. Starting with a core group of ten women and men, it quickly expanded to a national association now comprising over 2,000 members and more than 45 NWIR councils across the US.
As you will see on their website, “National Women in Roofing (NWiR) is a volunteer-based organization that supports and advances the careers of women roofing professionals, from manufacturing to design to installation, investigation to repair to management, and every step in between. NWiR provides networking, mentoring, education and industry recruitment opportunities from the rooftop to the boardroom, for the young professional at the start of her career to the seasoned manager in the executive suite. Through a commitment to connect and empower women in roofing, NWiR members contribute to the overall betterment and professionalism of the roofing industry. Membership also includes and welcomes men who support the inclusion of women in the roofing industry. Working together, NWiR members are bringing the industry to a new level of excellence by supporting and promoting the contributions of women as an essential component to the future of roofing.” It does not stop there. We have a whole new generation coming up of women who do not expect to see any discrimination and if they do, believe us, they have plenty of jobs in construction that do not include roofing. So, the times are changing. It takes balance, and in business it must be about all employees working together to find success and profitability. By recognizing the strength of women in roofing and women-owned businesses along with the balance of a strong and diverse employee base, the roofing industry is gaining strides quickly
in the recruitment of women and minorities. When companies work together for everyone’s success it shows and by embracing and empowering women in roofing, the industry will continue to see success in retaining the highest levels of talent. As I work with women throughout the roofing industry, I can say that they are strong leaders, innovative employers and thought leaders who are leading the way to making the roofing industry better than ever. I encourage all women to visit nationalwomeninroofing.org to learn more about the association and see the strides they have made. With their focus on four pillars— Networking, Education, Recruitment and Mentoring they are creating a space that embraces diversity and is changing the face of an industry. n
` Heidi J. Ellsworth is President of RoofersCoffeeShop, and founder of the National Women in Roofing (NWIR), a volunteer-based organization with the goal to provide networking, mentoring and education for women in the roofing industry.
By recognizing the strength of women in roofing and women-owned businesses along with the balance of a strong and diverse employee base, the roofing industry is gaining strides quickly in the recruitment of women and minorities.
