Promoting Safety and Well-being among Sheet Metal Worker Women through Mentoring
Marissa Baker
University of Washington
[email protected]
Lily Monsey
University of Washington
Abstract:
The percentage of female workers in constructions’ skilled trades remains dismally low — 3 percent. In addition to facing the industry’s well-known safety and health risks, tradeswomen are subjected to discrimination, harassment, and skills under-utilization. As a result, they have increased risk for injury, stress-related health effects, and high attrition rates from apprenticeship programs, all of which perpetuate their minority status. To help change these conditions, this project developed and is disseminating a mentorship program through local unions of the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers designed to reduced women’s health and safety risks, including work stress, and in improving retention.
Peer-Reviewed Articles
Effect of mentorship on perceived stress, perceived social support at work, and job satisfaction among tradeswomen in the United States: a randomized controlled trial. Journal of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, August 2026
Mentoring SMART Women: Designing an online mentorship training for sheet metal workers to increase safety and wellbeing. International Journal of Construction Education and Research, August 2026