Sam Kilian is a certified safety professional and construction health and safety technician at Baker Group with six years of experience as a safety specialist. She got her start in the construction industry after struggling to secure an internship needed for her degree.

Her father, who was a steamfitter, suggested she talk to his safety director and see if he would be willing to give her a shot. She took advantage of the opportunity and quickly became hooked.

“The scale of the projects and diversity of the days during that internship kept me interested in my work,” she says. “I never had the same day twice.”

Kilian’s day-to-day varies; some days she is walking the jobsite working with crews to problem solve difficult situations and other days she is working on paperwork and creating safety plans and policies. She also collaborates with clients on all different levels of the project, from project managers to detailers to leadership.

“Even when it is cold outside or 102 heat, I am out in the field working with crews,” Kilian says.

She believes the biggest change happening to safety in construction right now is that it is being held to a much higher standard by general contractors and clients than in the past. It is becoming more standard practice to have safety professionals on site at all times.

Kilian says the most surprising part of being a woman working in the construction industry is the interactions she has with her field crews.

“Sometimes I wonder if my job is safety professional or therapist,” she says.

Kilian embodies our core values of Caring About People and Loving What We Do by always ensuring people are sent home safe to their families and being a proactive problem solver in the field. She is an asset to our team. Thank you for all you do Sam!