Workplace Safety Advocate Tania-Joy Bartlett Links Respect and Safety to Solving Skills Shortage

Tania-Joy Bartlett, a Master Electrician and workplace safety advocate, is highlighting safety and respect as practical solutions to Canada's growing trades shortage. Drawing on decades of experience, Bartlett contends that workplace culture, not just technical training, will determine whether younger workers enter and remain in skilled trades like construction and electrical work. According to the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), the industry will need over 225,000 additional workers by 2027 to meet demand, making retention critical.

Bartlett emphasizes that people typically leave jobs due to how they are treated, not the work itself. She explains that safety and respect are daily practices that directly affect productivity and retention, citing examples where simple changes like daily check-ins and clear communication reduced mistakes and tension on worksites. Research from organizations like the Health and Safety Executive supports this view, showing that poor workplace culture contributes to higher accident rates, with construction accounting for one of the highest proportions of fatal injuries at work.

The implications are particularly significant for urban areas where dense worksites operate under constant pressure from tight schedules, diverse teams, and public scrutiny. Bartlett notes that leadership becomes most visible during these high-pressure moments, and improving worksite culture is one of the fastest ways to stabilize the workforce and attract younger talent. Studies indicate that respectful workplaces report hazards earlier, reducing serious incidents.

Rather than advocating for major policy changes, Bartlett encourages individual action at all levels. She suggests supervisors can model calm, clear communication, workers can speak up early about hazards, employers can remove toxic behavior immediately, and mentors can guide rather than intimidate. She also calls on parents and educators to present trades as skilled, respected careers. Bartlett maintains that the solution doesn't require new regulations but rather people willing to treat each other properly every day, creating environments where workers feel comfortable speaking up about problems rather than hiding them.