Veronica Howat, Safety and Fleet Coordinator at Wesbell Technologies
Veronica Howat is the Safety and Fleet Coordinator for the Burnaby, BC office of Wesbell Technologies (West). She started out as a green hand on a civil crew working her way up to a Foreperson position. She really enjoyed the different experiences she had working on the towers and the different places it was able to take her. It greatly satisfied her need to travel and be outdoors, as well as worked with the upbringing I had of always working hard. After an accident involving a family member in their workplace, she started moving her focus of interest more towards the safety side of things. She is currently working on obtaining my NCSO in BC, AB, and ONT, as well as I am an OHS student at BCIT.
What is the best advice anyone has ever given you?
The best advice that I have heard would be that you have to work for what you want, nothing will be handed to you on a silver plate. To me the rewards of working for something is always more worthwhile with the feeling of truly knowing that you earned it, and even if it ends in failure knowing that you did your best. You learn from it and if possible, try again.
What is a goal for yourself that you want to accomplish in the next year?
I am hoping that by the end of the year I will have obtained all three of the NSCO designations I am working on. It’s been hectic with a lot of information and learning but I can see the end in sight and I’m excited for it.
What motivates you?
It’s more so a who than a what for me. My dad motivates me. His lessons in life may have been hard and most of the time not the greatest, but he has made me who I am today. He taught me to work hard and still plays a role in the decisions I make to this day. My dad worked in the oilfield for 30 years with one of the highest safety ratings in his company earning him multiple awards before becoming a truck driver. He’s always treated his crew and coworkers like family and looked out for them. Until one day, he was involved in a workplace accident where the steer tire on his truck blew causing the truck to crash leaving him a T4 Paraplegic. Which I will say has been one of the biggest life lessons for not just me but my family. It motivated me to look deeper into what I think about safety and how it affects everyone, not just the individual it happens to. He’ s made me want to help educate others about not just their safety but the importance of looking out for everyone’s safety.
Favorite quote?
I have two actually:
- “Intelligence plus character- that is the goal of true education.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
- “Don’t walk in front of me… I may not follow. Don’t walk behind me… I may not lead. Walk beside me… just be my friend.” — Albert Camus
Everyone can have a different interpretation of a quote; it all depends on what sticks out for that individual. For me these quotes make me think about equality. It helps me to remember that it doesn’t matter how intelligent a person is, what their character is like, status in the workplace or society. At the end of the day, we are all just human.
What advice would you give to women coming into the industry?
Don’t be afraid to hold your ground, reach out for help there are many supporters out there for women in a male dominated workplace, and don’t let them break you, know your worth. Your worth is just as important and valuable as the men in the industry.
What does true leadership mean to you?
Leading by example, not the whole ‘do as I say, not as I do’. I highly dislike that. Also, you’re there to lead people, to help them do better and be better, create a supportive environment. They are not there to act as a steppingstone for your success, you are there to help them be successful. Yes, you can’t always be everyone’s friend but you’re also not there to dictate and demand your wants/needs of people either.
