Columbia Southern University recognizes National Safety Month, observed annually in June, to celebrate occupational safety and health students, graduates and faculty for their commitments to safety in the workplace, professionalism and their accomplishments.
Amanda Harvison is no stranger to hard work. She has worked in retail management, education, public service, industrial construction, and now, safety. She became a mother of three at a young age and these were the jobs she worked while her children were growing up.
“I entered industrial construction once my children were out of school, “she said. “I loved it. That experience alone, with the recommendation of our safety personnel, pushed me into safety.”
Amanda also learned that life experiences have a way of carving out your path. After the end of a 16-year marriage, she decided to focus on herself and find her true passion.
“I dug deep to figure out who I was as an individual and what my goals and dreams were now,” she said. “My children are grown and on their own. At the end of the day, I know securing my degree will facilitate me to advance my career.”
Entering the industrial construction field was not by choice; however, she had no idea at the time how much she would fall in love with the job and learn that she had a knack for safety.
“Construction is where I learned I had an eye for safety issues and the ability to come up with good solutions that made sense to make corrections,” she said. “The path you take, no matter the twists and turns, is worth it to discover a passion that pays the bills.”
As the industrial construction job was coming to an end, Amanda completed OSHA 30 training and began looking for a job in safety. Despite her desire to work in the field, she discovered that in order to advance in her career, she needed a degree.
After researching online for environment, health and safety (EHS) programs, she found CSU and decided to enroll.
“CSU made the most sense both financially and timewise,” she said. “This degree is the first step towards managing an EHS program. I love everything about what I do currently, but my true passion is to develop EHS programs that not only meet the federal and state guidelines but incorporate more common sense so that employees do not feel their hands are tied by policies and procedures at the production level.”
Amanda recently started a new position with United Alloy as the company’s EHS coordinator, allowing her to fulfill her true passion in the safety industry.
Her former position required addressing safety trends, employee training, walking the production floor looking for safety concerns that need corrected, conducting risk assessments, facilitating job safety analysis and updating company safety policies to apply with current new standards and regulations.
“Having been in the position of an employee working within the confines for standard, regulations and company policies, I love the challenge of finding solutions that are ‘out of the box,’” she said. “It’s a challenge to find the simplest solutions.”
Amanda has had her fair share of ups and downs. From an ended marriage to losing her best friend, her father, she has learned to forge ahead and overcome any obstacles standing in her way.
“The secret is you cannot let any event keep you down,” she said, “I have had people ask me how I come to work pleasant and smiling at 5 a.m. My answer is always the same. I woke up 5 feet, 4 inches tall above ground instead of 6 feet under. That alone is a good start, and from there, the day is what I make of it.”
Amanda is the recipient of CSU’s Safety Scholarship, allowing her to focus on earning a degree with less financial strain and stress. It has also given her the confidence to pursue a degree later in life.
“It is never too late,” she said. “I was 40 when I applied and 41 when classes started. It has been an adjustment getting into a routine of having schoolwork after so many years, but it is worth it.”
Amanda credits life experiences, both good and bad, for guiding her to a new journey.
“Every job I have ever worked, including raising children, has contributed to me being able to excel in this industry,” she said. “Public service taught me patience, working in education taught me how to teach without making people feel dumb, retail management gave me the people skills to diffuse tense situations, and industrial construction showed me how to look beyond what was sitting right in front of me. In a nutshell, every life experience was preparing me for this moment.”
She is currently pursuing an associate degree in occupational safety and health from CSU.
Disclaimer: These testimonials may not reflect the experience of all CSU students.
Multiple factors, including prior experience, geography, and degree field, affect career outcomes.
CSU does not guarantee a job, promotion, salary increase, eligibility for a position, or other career growth.
