HazTek Safety Professional Yajaira “Jay” Torres was in her late 20's when she came across a flyer for an opportunity to become a pre-apprentice for the trade of her choice. At the time, Jay was at a crossroads in her life — she was a single mom who had lost her job right after the economy tanked, and she had no idea what she wanted to do. Construction had never even been a consideration for her, let alone an option. But she called about the program, enrolled in the 6-week class, and interviewed with the trades.

As a U.S. Army veteran, Jay felt that she could handle tough work and she believed that she had a good chance of succeeding in the program. She chose the carpenters union and became an apprentice. Jay went through all the highs and lows of being a woman of color and trying to find both her voice and her place in this field — all while becoming a top-notch mechanic (someone who is skilled in their trade). She had a lot of mentors along the way and she had a lot of ambition. After becoming a journeyman carpenter, Jay immediately became a shop steward. She got involved with union politics, took the course to become an instructor, and she began teaching pre-apprentices part time, after kicking butt in the field all day. Jay became part of the Sisters in the Brotherhood — a group of outstanding women who offer support, share resources, and come together as a unified voice within the union. Jay had even higher aspirations and wanted to be part of the union leadership — she became the first-ever female field representative in the state of New Jersey.

“One of my absolute favorite jobs was working on the renovation of the Statue of Liberty in New York City. It felt like I was a small part of history. Taking the ferry every morning was amazing,” says Jay. “Being part of the crew of the construction of the new high school in my hometown was another highlight. It was an honor to be there from the beams to the ceiling tile, and leaving my mark on the story of New Brunswick [New Jersey].”

Feeling that she needed a change in the direction of her career, Jay decided to put her resume out there. She applied to HazTek on a whim and she received a call within a half hour. Jay says, “It was the best thing that has happened to me. Working in safety has made me see the work so differently. I enjoy being part of the team that helps put mechanisms in place to run a safe work site. I enjoy the relationships I've built with the workers in the field, the CMs, the clients, etc.” Jay went on to say, “I love the support that I get from HazTek and the opportunities that are available to me, especially being as ambitious as I've always been — I feel like the possibilities are endless. I am forever grateful that I followed my heart and it led me here.”

We thank Jay for all of her enthusiasm and the dedication 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.