Profile
"West Oak’s success has come from always putting our clients’ best interests first and always finding ways to improve and add more value to them"
Andrew mcquiston,
west oak family office, wellington-altus private wealth
Andrea Martin is a fall protection specialist at 3M who has worked in the safety industry for over 18 years. She is an expert in her field and is known for helping her customers develop safety solutions within complex applications. One of the things she enjoys the most about her industry is that fall protection solutions are like puzzles where all the pieces have to fit together perfectly. Between the product, application, and safety standard intricacies, Andrea is committed to finding the best solution to keep workers safe and ensure that everyone gets proper training on product use, handling, and care.
Working in a male-dominated industry, she helps overcome gender bias on a daily basis. She promotes the importance of proper-fitting safety gear regardless of body type. She is a mentor for other women looking to make a career in the industrial or safety fields and is an inspiration to those who are interested in safety beyond the site manager role.
“I never intended on having a career in safety,” she says. She worked in the restaurant business prior to getting into safety. “I was a new mom and decided to make a career change in 2004.”
Starting her career in the industry with a large glove manufacturer, she then moved into safety and industrial distribution. “I took my first fall protection course in 2007 and I never looked back. I’m not too sure if it’s my extreme fear of heights or the fact that fall protection solutions are like puzzles where all the pieces have to fit together perfectly, but I was hooked.”
Andrea says that after that course, her dream was that of being a fall protection specialist. She started working for 3M in 2016 as their only female field fall protection specialist in North America. When it comes to fall protection, she says that her first priority is always education.
“In this business, you need to understand the specifics of the application at hand, the provincial safety standards at play, and the proper use and care requirements for the products needed to create the right safety solution,” she says. Ultimately, she is here to help customers navigate all of these components in industries that are ever-changing.
Despite her love for the industry, there have been challenges. She says that in her role, she can be anywhere from a construction site to a petrol-chemical plant, and in 90 per cent of cases, she is dealing with men. “The biggest challenge has been managing the gender bias within the industrial space,” she says. “Industrial selling is a male-dominated space where trust and rapport can be difficult to build as
a woman.”
“I am often told I don’t belong, simply for being a woman,” she says, being on the receiving end of comments that call into question her abilities simply because of her gender. "What does me being female have to do with my ability to retain information and solve problems? In addition, my passion gets confused for emotion in a way that I don’t see with my male counterparts. But it is pure passion – this is my dream job!”
Though she has had some great mentors in the industry, she had no female leaders to look up to. This is why she takes so much pride in being a role model and mentor for other women who want to get into the industry and learn about different career paths.
“There are a lot of niches and different ways you can be a safety champion, whether it is through distribution, manufacturing, standard setting organizations or government, and representation in the industry is important to show others what opportunities are available,” she says.
“It is such an honour to be recognized for the value that I bring as a safety solutions specialist,” says Andrea. “I’m passionate about educating people on safe work practices and the importance of safety so this means I must be doing something right.”
300 Tartan Drive, London ON N5V 4M9
416 559 4003
amartin@mmm.com
ca.linkedin.com/in/fallspecialist
3m.ca/fallprotection
Andrea Martin
Fall Protection Specialist, SW Ontario
3M Canada
Read on
Special Report
Home
Bio
Milestones
Profile
Andrea Martin is a fall protection specialist at 3M who has worked in the safety industry for over 18 years. She is an expert in her field and is known for helping her customers develop safety solutions within complex applications. One of the things she enjoys the most about her industry is that fall protection solutions are like puzzles where all the pieces have to fit together perfectly. Between the product, application, and safety standard intricacies, Andrea is committed to finding the best solution to keep workers safe and ensure that everyone gets proper training on product use, handling, and care.
Working in a male-dominated industry, she helps overcome gender bias on a daily basis. She promotes the importance of proper-fitting safety gear regardless of body type. She is a mentor for other women looking to make a career in the industrial or safety fields and is an inspiration to those who are interested in safety beyond the site manager role.
“I never intended on having a career in safety,” she says. She worked in the restaurant business prior to getting into safety. “I was a new mom and decided to make a career change in 2004.”
Starting her career in the industry with a large glove manufacturer, she then moved into safety and industrial distribution. “I took my first fall protection course in 2007 and I never looked back. I’m not too sure if it’s my extreme fear of heights or the fact that fall protection solutions are like puzzles where all the pieces have to fit together perfectly, but I was hooked.”
Andrea says that after that course, her dream was that of being a fall protection specialist. She started working for 3M in 2016 as their only female field fall protection specialist in North America. When it comes to fall protection, she says that her first priority is always education.
“In this business, you need to understand the specifics of the application at hand, the provincial safety standards at play, and the proper use and care requirements for the products needed to create the right safety solution,” she says. Ultimately, she is here to help customers navigate all of these components in industries that are ever-changing.
Despite her love for the industry, there have been challenges. She says that in her role, she can be anywhere from a construction site to a petrol-chemical plant, and in 90 per cent of cases, she is dealing with men. “The biggest challenge has been managing the gender bias within the industrial space,” she says. “Industrial selling is a male-dominated space where trust and rapport can be difficult to build as a woman.”
“I am often told I don’t belong, simply for being a woman,” she says, being on the receiving end of comments that call into question her abilities simply because of her gender. "What does me being female have to do with my ability to retain information and solve problems? In addition, my passion gets confused for emotion in a way that I don’t see with my male counterparts. But it is pure passion – this is my dream job!”
Though she has had some great mentors in the industry, she had no female leaders to look up to. This is why she takes so much pride in being a role model and mentor for other women who want to get into the industry and learn about different career paths.
“There are a lot of niches and different ways you can be a safety champion, whether it is through distribution, manufacturing, standard setting organizations or government, and representation in the industry is important to show others what opportunities are available,” she says.
“It is such an honour to be recognized for the value that I bring as a safety solutions specialist,” says Andrea. “I’m passionate about educating people on safe work practices and the importance of safety so this means I must be doing something right.”
Milestones
2021
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
PRESENTED AT THE 3M INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S WEEK ON OVERCOMING GENDER BIAS
2021
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
2019
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Received 3M Fall Safety Award, end user accolades including one global acknowledgment for the fall program she implemented
2019
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
2016
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Joined 3M Fall Protection as a fall specialist
2016
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
2007
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Joined an industrial safety distributor as a safety specialist
First fall protection training course through Capital Safety
2007
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
2004
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Started her career in the safety industry, working for a large glove manufacturer
2004
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
2004
2007
2016
2019
2021
Andrea Martin
Fall Protection Specialist, SW Ontario
3M Canada
Read on
Special Report
Home
Bio
Milestones
Profile
Andrea Martin is a fall protection specialist at 3M who has worked in the safety industry for over 18 years. She is an expert in her field and is known for helping her customers develop safety solutions within complex applications. One of the things she enjoys the most about her industry is that fall protection solutions are like puzzles where all the pieces have to fit together perfectly. Between the product, application, and safety standard intricacies, Andrea is committed to finding the best solution to keep workers safe and ensure that everyone gets proper training on product use, handling, and care.
Working in a male-dominated industry, she helps overcome gender bias on a daily basis. She promotes the importance of proper-fitting safety gear regardless of body type. She is a mentor for other women looking to make a career in the industrial or safety fields and is an inspiration to those who are interested in safety beyond the site manager role.
“I never intended on having a career in safety,” she says. She worked in the restaurant business prior to getting into safety. “I was a new mom and decided to make a career change in 2004.”
Starting her career in the industry with a large glove manufacturer, she then moved into safety and industrial distribution. “I took my first fall protection course in 2007 and I never looked back. I’m not too sure if it’s my extreme fear of heights or the fact that fall protection solutions are like puzzles where all the pieces have to fit together perfectly, but I was hooked.”
Andrea says that after that course, her dream was that of being a fall protection specialist. She started working for 3M in 2016 as their only female field fall protection specialist in North America. When it comes to fall protection, she says that her first priority is always education.
“In this business, you need to understand the specifics of the application at hand, the provincial safety standards at play, and the proper use and care requirements for the products needed to create the right safety solution,” she says. Ultimately, she is here to help customers navigate all of these components in industries that are ever-changing.
Despite her love for the industry, there have been challenges. She says that in her role, she can be anywhere from a construction site to a petrol-chemical plant, and in 90 per cent of cases, she is dealing with men. “The biggest challenge has been managing the gender bias within the industrial space,” she says. “Industrial selling is a male-dominated space where trust and rapport can be difficult to build as a woman.”
“I am often told I don’t belong, simply for being a woman,” she says, being on the receiving end of comments that call into question her abilities simply because of her gender. "What does me being female have to do with my ability to retain information and solve problems? In addition, my passion gets confused for emotion in a way that I don’t see with my male counterparts. But it is pure passion – this is my dream job!”
Though she has had some great mentors in the industry, she had no female leaders to look up to. This is why she takes so much pride in being a role model and mentor for other women who want to get into the industry and learn about different career paths.
“There are a lot of niches and different ways you can be a safety champion, whether it is through distribution, manufacturing, standard setting organizations or government, and representation in the industry is important to show others what opportunities are available,” she says.
“It is such an honour to be recognized for the value that I bring as a safety solutions specialist,” says Andrea. “I’m passionate about educating people on safe work practices and the importance of safety so this means I must be doing something right.”
Milestones
2021
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
PRESENTED AT THE 3M INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S WEEK ON OVERCOMING GENDER BIAS
2021
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
2019
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Received 3M Fall Safety Award, end user accolades including one global acknowledgment for the fall program she implemented
2019
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
2016
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Joined 3M Fall Protection as a fall specialist
2016
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
2007
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Joined an industrial safety distributor as a safety specialist
First fall protection training course through Capital Safety
2007
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
2004
Ted Talk in collaboration with key media
Started her career in the safety industry, working for a large glove manufacturer
2004
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
2004
2007
2016
2019
2021
Andrea Martin
Fall Protection Specialist, SW Ontario
3M Canada
Read on
Special Report
Home
Bio
Milestones
2021
2019
2016
2007
2004
2021
Insurance Business Magazine | Key Media
PRESENTED AT THE 3M INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S WEEK ON OVERCOMING GENDER BIAS
2021
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
2019
Human Resources Magazine | key media
Received 3M Fall Safety Award, end user accolades including one global acknowledgment for the fall program she implemented
2019
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
2016
Human Resources Magazine | key media
Joined 3M Fall Protection as a fall specialist
2016
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
2007
Human Resources Magazine | key media
Joined an industrial safety distributor as a safety specialist
First fall protection training course through Capital Safety
2007
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
2004
human resources | key media
Started her career in the safety industry, working for a large glove manufacturer
2004
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. A volutpat laoreet suscipit duis. Diam aliquam sed ut massa viverra a, eget libero.
Milestones