For decades,safety leadership worldwide is completely different from what we see today.Imagine a picture of a busy industrial site a decade ago – hard hats here and there, alarms ringing,machine noising, and nearly every safety professional was being a man. That was the norm.but something influential,powerful has been arsing across the globe..A quiet, stable, unbeatable transition.
A new build has been entering into the control rooms, heading tool box talks,investigating the incidents, guiding the young work force, inspecting the higher risk zones, and presenting safety insights to the governing teams – a build many didn’t expect to see before:
A Woman
Present day women are in EHS leadership,EHS Professional just not only filling up the roles but elevating them and rewriting the stories in the safety workplace.
The Transforming image of safety
Let’s assume a ordinary morning at a large manufacturing plant.A team was waiting for their safety briefing.A woman walks in confident, composed, and holding the authority that only true wisdom brings off.She isn’t introduced as a “First female safety specialist” but simply as
“Our EHS Manager “
She speaks about /Incidents,Accidents,near misses,Danger occurrences ,high risk tasks,work place observations ,Behavioural reminders.The staff might be older to her and experienced in their own domains but listen carefully.Not that she demands respect but she earns it.
This scene is becoming common and the rise of women in EHS has not been sudden but its growing steadily year after year.
The verified global data shows the rise clearly:
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15% of EHS professionals in 2010 were represented by women (trend estimates)
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Women EHS Professionals increased to 18% by 2015 (trend estimates)
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By 2020, women established 20% of safety professionals (trend estimates)
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In 2021, the EHS profession had a 3:1 male-to-female ratio, meaning 25% women (Source: Ken Institute, 2021)
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By 2022, 31.1% of occupational health and safety specialists in the U.S. were women (Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
- By 2023–2025, safety associations reported 21–30% women in EHS globally (Source: British Safety Council / OneWISH Coalition, 2023)
The Pioneers behind the change
Every great shift happens because someone leads by pushing limits.
Here are the women leaders whose acquirements are gathered and validated who endures to motivate thousands.
Sarah Newton – Chair, Health and Safety Executive (UK)
Appointed Chair of the UK’s national safety regulator in 2020.
(Source: Health and Safety Executive, UK – hse.gov.uk)
Andresa Hernandes – Global Head of Safety, Siemens AG
Became Global Head/Vice President of Safety at Siemens effective January 2022.
(Source: Siemens Official Blog, 2022)
Geetali Thakur – Director & Head of API EHS & Process Safety, Cipla
Appointed in December 2021; also the first Indian woman Licentiate Faculty of the British Occupational Hygiene Society.
(Source: Indian Chemical News, 2021)
Tanuja Sathe – Senior Executive HESQ Officer, YARA India
Known for leadership in worker safety and community safety initiatives.
(Source: YARA India feature articles)
These names are evidence-
women in EHS leader ship paving the way for future generations.
A Field episode that changed everything
Saba , a young EHS Engineer , showed up at a large construction project for her opening day on the work.Employees gazed at her with doubt.A few murmured ,”Is she really the EHS Engineer”’?
A contractor Said “Madam,This area is risky I will get the pictures for you .No need you to climb”
Saba Smiled.Thank you for your concern. But I will inspect it by myself.
she went up
she checked every plank,guardrail.
She documented each gap
she briefed correctionsWhen she came down,The employees didn’t look at her with doubt anymore.They admired her and looked at her with respect.
Days Later, a Senior employee told her something she carried for years
“Madam, When u step into the site, we feel more committed”
This is the impact of women in EHS roles.
They don’t just execute rules -they shape behaviour.
Why women make phenomenal EHS Leaders
EHS leader ship is not about imposing; its about influencing.Not about executing rules but about motivating safety behaviour additionally EHS leadership requires a unique mixture of technical knowledge ,emotional intelligence and decision making where women excel in these areas.
Care,Clear Communication
A safety message will be understood if it’s effectively communicated where women are good at and they bring empathy, which makes the team feel to speak up.
Ethical Backbone and honest reporting
A EHS Leader even in challenging times must remain resolute – and women excel in that sowing unwavering honesty during incident reporting and root-cause investigations.
Holistic Risk understanding
From ergonomics to hygiene to stress, women naturally observe details that build more holistic safety systems.
Enhancing cooperation and trust
A positive and strong safety culture depends upon the team work Women encourage cooperation and improve cross-functional engagement—something every high-risk industry needs.
Empathy-Driven Leadership
Usually, people follow leaders who understand them. Women EHS leaders create environments where workers feel heard, respected, and responsible.
These are not soft skills.
These are safety skills.
Challenges Women Still Face
Even in the present day, women in occupational health and safety often find themselves being the only woman in a room. Although the work has evolved and the systems have been upgraded, the same old attitudes in some places have not been converted fully.
Many women working in EHS are constantly subject to the silent stereotype:
“Safety is a hard field. Are you really up to it?”
This way of thinking reveals itself in different forms:
Stereotypes that “men are more suitable for safety jobs than women”
When a female safety officer visits a site, people sometimes take her for HR or admin even though she is the person responsible for authorising permits or stopping unsafe work.
Less number of women on panel discussions and safety committees:
Environment safety conferences, technical panels, investigation teams and steering committees still mostly have men as their members. This limits women’s voices and perspectives in making important decisions.
Field mobility issues: night audits and remote locations
Several women in EHS positions can manage field work without any difficulty, but due to certain practical issues such as an unsafe route for travel, lack of secure accommodation, and absence of basic facilities, their opportunities are restricted.
Promotion delays and visibility gaps
Women might be doing a great job as safety engineers or coordinators and yet, there may be very few instances where they get considered for positions such as EHS Manager, Head–Safety or Corporate HSE Lead.
Work–life expectations during incidents or emergencies
In case of a major incident, situations occur out of the blue and at odd hours; women are judged for their availability more than men even though they are equally committed and capable.
These Barriers are real
But not permanent
Companies that have the right mentality, policies and leadership support are capable of wiping out these hindrances and building a world in which women leading safety are not rare characters, but rather normal and expected members of the safety ecosystem.
How Companies Can Build Strong Women EHS Leaders
A safe environment in the workplace is the one where anyone, regardless of their gender, can be a leader. Companies that are after a strong safety culture have to demonstrate their commitment by supporting women who make a career in the EHS sector and those who work in corporate safety.
Here are the ways companies can make a real impact from their good intentions:
Women should be encouraged and helped to obtain certifications and advanced qualifications in EHS such as NEBOSH, IOSH, and OSHA. Financial aid, time for study, and the support of a mentor for preparation to the exam are ways to communicate that the company values them as future safety leaders.
Access to safe transport, the assessment of PPE fit, and correct provision of the field are some of the ways to ensure safety. Also, return facilities should be well-lit and have the necessary equipment to make women comfortable in case they are on remote or night-shift assignments.
Examine risk assessments to cover such aspects as PPE sizing, ergonomics, health, and safety that may be for women differently in sites and plants.
Invite women in safety sector to take up leadership roles during Safety Week, audits, toolbox talks, investigation panels, client safety meetings, and internal EHS councils. Participation and presence increase the self-assurance of these women and of the people who watch them.
Safety leadership cannot exist and flourish in a culture that is characterized by fear or lack of respect. Strict, well-implemented zero harassment policies are the basic and indispensable requirement if one wants women to be in safety roles and extend their career there.
Know the stages that lead from safety officer to safety manager to the head of EHS. Connect the women in EHS to experienced mentors who will help them in technical, behavioural, and leadership areas.
Deal with diversity in safety as a part of your EHS strategy and not just an HR matter. Keep records of how many women hold safety roles, how many are promoted, and how many participate in safety decision-making forums.
This is not about checking off a box or filling a quota.
It is about making workplaces safer, thoughtful, and more resilient by bringing in the full range of human talent to safety leadership.
NIST Global’s Commitment to Women in Safety
As one of the leading companies in the field of EHS in India, NIST Global Pvt Ltd is very close to the change that is taking place. More and more women are coming to our classrooms and eLearning modules every year and they are entering the safety, health, and environment field with a strong ambition.
We are convinced that women in safety leadership are the key to the future of the Indian industry, and it is with that conviction that we shape our work.
Here is how NIST Global helps women in safety:
Industry-leading NIST Global safety training
Our programs on NEBOSH, IOSH, and other international EHS standards are designed to help women obtain the technical skills and the self-confidence that they need to become safety officers and then to reach leadership.
NEBOSH, IOSH, and international EHS coaching
We offer to women in EHS a well-planned support system, preparation for the exam, and assistance in concepts so that they don’t just solve tests they get the application of the knowledge in the real working environment.
Inclusive eLearning content and safety modules
Our eLearning and corporate training offerings purposely do not present false images and depict women as investigators, permit issuers, EHS managers, and safety champions, i.e., as active agents in the scenarios rather than co-users.
Skill-building for beginners and mid-career professionals
We emphasise not only the technical side but also the soft skills like communication, leadership, incident analysis, and behavioural safety of a beginner or a mid-career professional in the safety engineering field.
Corporate partnerships for diverse EHS teams
By collaborating with different organizations from various sectors, we motivate our clients to create diverse, gender-balanced EHS teams and we help them through training, providing frameworks, and advisory inputs.
Our goal is as clear and as simple as:
Help and support every woman who wishes to protect people and be the leader of the safety culture.
Workplaces become not only safer but also fairer, stronger, and more human when more women lead safety.
Boost your confidence. Earn your certification. Build your safety career.
For further details regarding the course, , please visit our Enquiry Page or reach out to us at info@nistglobal.com