HazTek Safety Professional Leslie Blankenbiller has over forty years of experience in the construction industry. As a third-generation construction industry worker, she has been around construction for her entire life. Leslie started out as a carpenter and worked her way to management, noting that safety has always been at the forefront of all of her jobs.

Leslie never could have imagined the incredible journey that construction work would take her on. She has had the opportunity to work all over the country, working from the ground up on everything from small projects to large-scale projects. Each project involved safety for all of the workers.

A few of Leslie’s favorite memories are from her work on the Pentagon where she created all of the mechanical drawings for the historical restoration of Wedge 3 — one of five sections of the renovation. Other favorite projects in Washington, D.C., include the historical renovations of the Dwight D. Eisenhower Executive Office Building and The Hay-Adams Hotel and her work on the design for the façade of Madame Tussaud’s. Leslie has also had the opportunity to work on the bridges in and around the Baltimore, Maryland, area and says that they were some of the most exciting projects that she’s worked on.

Leslie enjoys continuing her education and she never stops learning — whether she’s learning new safety information or new technology being used by the trades. Leslie’s advice: “I encourage all women to get involved in the trades within the construction industry as it has many positive benefits, including the self-satisfaction from being a part something that will most likely be here long after you’re gone. Other benefits include the potential to travel and the overall comradery and teamwork amongst peers.”

Thank you to Leslie for her professionalism and all of the skills that she brings to our organization.

In honor of Women in Construction Week, HazTek is featuring several of our safety professionals who work out in the field.

The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) created Women in Construction (WIC) Week to highlight women as a viable component of the construction industry and as an occasion for the thousands of NAWIC members across the country to help raise awareness of the growing role of women in the construction industry and the opportunities available to them.

HazTek Inc. is a leading provider of comprehensive safety management services with a mission to enrich the health, safety, and well-being of our employees, our customers, and our communities.