Empowering Women in Safety

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, women made up 56.8% of the U.S. workforce in 2022. That same year, however, women accounted for only 24.8% of safety executives and managers, National Safety Council research shows. This gap represents an important challenge – and opportunity – for the safety industry.

Women’s participation in safety initiatives is critical for creating safe work environments. Not only does engaging women in health and safety decisions lead to a better understanding of gender-specific risks, but studies have shown that including a diverse group of people on safety committees and in leadership roles can lead to better decision-making and safer workplaces.

Further, research also shows that organizations with diverse leadership teams and a culture of inclusion have higher levels of employee engagement. 

Erica Cole, head of vocational business development at Amazon Business, a mechanical engineer and former fall safety lead, is passionate about empowering women when it comes to workplace safety.

“Women need to have a clear understanding of core safety principles,” Cole says. “Our physiological differences mean that basic safety equipment – gloves, harness, hard hats, shoes – fit our bodies differently and can impact how and whether we can do our jobs.

“The first step is understanding when to use safety gear or PPE. Know your organization’s policies but, more importantly, know when hazards are present and when you’re entitled to protection.”

OSHA has a wealth of resources on hazards and solutions by industry that can empower you to keep yourself – and your colleagues – safe on the job.

“The next step is understanding whether or not you are using your gear in accordance with federally regulated mandates,” Cole said. “And does it fit your body properly? Are your gloves too loose (which can make it harder for you to do your job)? Does your fall harness fit correctly (which can save your life in the event of a fall)? Are you inspecting your equipment at the right frequency (to make sure it hasn’t received any damage)?

“Safety is a male-dominated field, but women should still feel empowered to lead safety stand-downs, to lead group conversations and to become a resource for their teams. But, we generally don’t like to speak up unless we feel like we’re experts.”

If you’re unsure about the specific products you’re using, Cole recommends doing some research.

“Product details, like those we include on Amazon Business, and manufacturer specifications are important resources,” she said. “Our tools make it easy to discover and compare important features, and you can easily reach out to the manufacturer or our sales team for more information. 

It’s an easy, accessible, low-pressure way to get started.”

However, there are more active ways to do research, too.

“Have a conversation with the site lead on your jobsite – what are the organization’s regulations and policies outside of federal mandates? Are there certain types of PPE/safety equipment teams are required to use? Certain brands? Why?”

But at the end of the day, Cole stresses, you don’t have to be an expert to help make your workplace safer. “Our teams at Amazon Business are staffed with safety experts,” she says. “We’re happy to go onsite with you to determine the best products for your teams. We can also help you identify and prefer certain products or brands, or even limit and restrict products through Guided Buying (a Business Prime feature), so that you can be sure your teams are only buying the right equipment. You can also customize your delivery preferences to make it easy to verify that your onsite teams have received their purchases, so projects stay on-track.


“There isn’t a more important job we could have than working in safety because, at the end of the day, people’s lives are on the line. I want women to feel empowered. I want women to feel like they can speak up, ask questions and take the lead. Because the worst thing that could happen is that someone doesn’t make it home the same way they made it to their job that morning.”

Browse our safety selection with your Amazon Business account, or contact sales to get started.