14 Apr Candace Carnahan, Safety Speaker

Candace Carnahan, Safety Speaker

I grew up in the country, a small town called Newcastle – which graduated into the city of Miramichi, New Brunsick the year before I graduated high school.  The pulp and paper mill, which was the bread and butter of the town, was located on the edge of it. The mill was where my grandfather, and most of my friends’ fathers were employed, my father, however, was a truck driver. It was my mother who worked at the mill and had a big office with a glass window in a world where most women worked in cubicles. I loved going into the mill to visit her in that office; she was always dressed in high heels and our school pictures were framed on her desk.

My mother was a boss lady in a man’s world. She did things like show up to pick me up from dance class in a different car than I was dropped off in –  a white Cadillac with blue velvet interior and a continental wheel with a personalized license plate “LCC” – her initials, to be exact.  She also had her initials sewn into her floor-length fur coat, a coat that dad would hold open for her to put on before leaving for an evening out. I would come to realize later in life that we were a middle class family, but I was certain for most of my childhood that we were rich – my mother made everything feel fancy. I didn’t realize it at the time, but what she was teaching me was to be proud to have what you’ve worked hard for – to take ownership of it,  to put your name on it. While I don’t have a personalized license plate – my name is my business, my brand, and something I am very proud of.

My mother taught me, through the way she lived her life, that “abundance” is a feeling you create; not a number you chase.

Ironically, what began my career as a motivational speaker also marked the end of my mother’s employment at the paper mill. I was part of the summer employment program for kids going to university who had parents who worked at the mill. I was injured my third and final summer of work and lost my left leg below the knee. I stepped over top of a commonly used shortcut – an unguarded conveyor belt system, and this one small step that had been taken countless times by so many over the years turned my world upside down.

The challenges and obstacles I had to overcome as a result of this incident also set me on a whole new trajectory. For the last twenty-plus years, I have traveled the globe, sharing my story as an ambassador for safer workplaces.

Much like my mother, and women all over the world have done for decades, I too am a woman working in a man’s world. My business is primarily within the mining, oil and gas, utilities, and manufacturing industries – all still heavily dominated by men. While I’m certain that potential clients ask me for discounted rates that my male counterparts are not presented with, I do feel that my work and the business I’ve created is embraced and respected across the board. I’ve demanded space be carved out for me in this business, and in doing so this work has carved out a special place in my heart.

In my twenty years of working in this business I have had the great pleasure of seeing workplace health and safety culture improve significantly. This is the result of countless combined efforts put in place by industry, companies, governments, leadership and the workforce in general. I have also had the pleasure of watching women, slowly but surely, begin to infiltrate these historically male-dominated industries and bring with them skillsets, mindsets, new ways of thinking and ways of nurturing that are inherent to women and are now being appreciated in more industries and traditionally ‘tough’ workspaces.

Through my work, I lead by example. I aim to show women that they can be heard, seen, command a room, change minds, change lives, be strong, while still being kind, soft, and embracing all of the beautiful aspects of our divine feminine character that set us apart from the other species.  While not specific to women, my approach to workplace safety is about reminding people ‘why’ their safety matters. My speeches and interactions with the audience are personal and oftentimes vulnerable. While traditionally seen as a more feminine approach, it’s important to me to help create those safe spaces for both men and women.

Just recently I led a workshop with a large group of women, and part of our exercise was for everyone to take some time to think about what their own, personal safety mantra would sound and feel like, and to put it into action by writing it down. When the time came to share, hands all over the room were raised.

“To stand in my position and in my power when I’m feeling intimidated at work.”

“To put myself first, and do what I need to do so I can take care of my family and perform to my best ability at work.”

“To keep an open door policy at all times where people are encouraged to come in and share their feelings, thoughts, and concerns.”

This was an eye-opening experience for me. I realized that even though women have, and continue to make great strides in the world and in the workplace, that feeling heard, seen, and respected remains an on-going challenge for many.

Ultimately, people will not speak up on my behalf of their own physical safety if their physiological safety is in jeopardy. It is encouraging to see the emphasis that is now being placed on psychological safety, and the efforts toward promoting it as a necessary component to overall health and wellness in the workplace and beyond.

Well, there are many stories I could share with you – including why one of my mantras is ‘sharing stories, saves lives.’ But I think the most important takeaway from my experience is that we can find a way to turn any situation into a positive, or at the very least, to learn from it. What has helped me from the day I took that step over the conveyor belt was the understanding and acceptance that I had a choice to make: I could be bitter, or I could be better – but not both.

About Candace Carnahan: Candace is the leading light on enhancing safety cultures within organizations. She knows first-hand how a lack of safety in the workplace can change lives forever. Candace works globally with safety-focused companies that rank the well-being of their employees above all else; companies that recognize that safety is top priority and commit to making it so – every day. Candace believes that safety is an attitude, a state of mind, a way of life, and she shares her conviction that having the courage to care through standing up for others is a transformational concept – “If You See Something. Say Something!”

For more information on Candace, visit her website here: https://candacecarnahan.com/