An Industry Leader’s Perspective on Women in Construction, Safety

With the recent celebration of Women in Construction Week March 1-7, American Builders 2017 Safety Director Lisa Capicik shares her perspective as a woman with more than 25 years of experience in the construction industry:

• “The team of project management and field staff on SunTrust Park demonstrates the changing face of construction as a historically male-dominated industry that is continuing to open the door—ever wider—to women, not only as laborers but as leaders.”

The approach to safety on the landmark SunTrust Park construction project:

• Seven miles of safety railing will be installed to provide fall protection throughout the site.
• Employees of every company and subcontractor supplying labor on the site must complete safety orientation.
• To date, Capicik's team of five onsite safety personnel have conducted safety orientations for 550 workers.
• Over the duration of the project, more than 5,000 workers will have helped complete the project.
• The construction team has worked 180 days with zero lost time or recordable injuries.

Capicik's perspective on safety:

• “We talk a lot about creating a safety culture, not being safety police. Safety must be embedded in every process to ensure the protection of each person and task across the construction site.”
• “Safety is more than rules and regulations. For us, safety is personal.”

Click here to visit the construction site for the new home of the Atlanta Braves, SunTrust Park, where Capicik leads safety for the approximately $600-million project.
To learn more about the progress of women in the construction industry, view a fact sheet.