When the Warning Signs Are Ignored: What Tradeswomen Need to Know to Stay Safe at Work

Tiffany Tillema
Nov 14
3 min read

The trades are filled with strong, capable, hardworking women who show up every day ready to build, weld, restore, and create. But sometimes, even the toughest woman faces a danger she should never have to, such as hostility, bullying, or outright violence from a coworker.

Recently, the welding community was shaken by the heartbreaking murder of 20-year-old welder Amber Czech in Cokato, Minnesota. Amber, a recent graduate of a 10-month welding program, was just starting her career. One morning, a coworker, a 40-year-old man, allegedly walked over to her workstation, picked up a sledgehammer, and brutally took her life. He later told police he had been “planning to kill her for a while” because he “didn't like her.”

A statement like that—planning this for a while—doesn’t come out of nowhere.

No one simply “snaps” without warning. There are always signs.

Someone saw them. She may have seen them. And the question we have to ask is: Did she or anyone else report this behavior? Were those reports ignored? Or, what we see far too often, was she afraid to report it?

The Silent Pressure Tradeswomen Face

Tradeswomen often “put up with” inappropriate comments, bullying, exclusion, or intimidation for the same painful reasons:

Fear of looking weak
Fear of making things worse
Fear of being fired or written up
Fear of being labeled “dramatic” or “difficult”
Fear that no one will take them seriously
Fear that the person retaliating against them has more power, seniority, or connections

This is how unsafe environments are created, and how tragedies like Amber’s become possible.

Let’s be clear:

No woman should ever feel unsafe, intimidated, or threatened just for coming to work.

What the Data Shows

Women in male-dominated trades report:

60% experience gender-based harassment at some point in their careers.
1 in 3 say they’ve witnessed or experienced threats, intimidation, or bullying on jobsites.
Fewer than 10% of women report serious incidents because they fear retaliation.

These numbers aren’t “just statistics”; they are lived realities.

Warning Signs to Take Seriously

Women (and their allies) should watch for:

Behavioral Red Flags

Excessive anger directed at one person
Overly fixated or obsessive complaints
Sudden changes in attitude toward a coworker
Personal comments that escalate from rude to hostile
Threatening language, even framed as “jokes”

Environmental Red Flags

A culture that dismisses complaints
Supervisors who excuse male behavior as “just how he is”
A pattern of women leaving the company quickly
Lack of HR presence or clear reporting procedures

Personal Instincts

If your gut says something is wrong, pay attention. Your instincts are a survival tool.

If You’re Being Harassed or Bullied at Work

You do not have to stay silent. Here are safe, realistic options:

1. Document Everything

Write down:

Date, time, location
What happened
Who saw it
Any emails, texts, or messages

Documentation = protection.

2. Tell Someone You Trust

This might be:

Another tradeswoman
A supervisor you trust
A union representative
A safety manager

3. Report It Up the Chain

If your workplace has:

HR
A safety department
An ethics hotline

Use it. If they do nothing, that becomes part of the evidence.

4. If You Ever Feel in Immediate Danger

Do not worry about looking “dramatic.”Call 911. Tell a supervisor. Leave the jobsite. Your safety matters more than someone’s opinion.

Resources for Tradeswomen Facing Harassment

OSHA – You have the right to a safe workplace. You can file a confidential complaint.
EEOC – Handles harassment, discrimination, and retaliation cases.
Women in Trades organizations – Many states have support groups and advocacy organizations.
Local Domestic Violence Hotlines – Even if it's not a domestic partner, they can help with a safety plan.
National Hotline: 800-799-SAFE

The Big Message: You Are Not Alone

Amber should still be here, building her welding career, living her life, and becoming everything she dreamed of becoming. Women in the trades should not have to navigate danger just to do the work they love.

You deserve: