Safety Anne Shapes Tomorrow’s Builders
The legendary “Safety Anne” prepares Aggies to lead safer, smarter, and more productive job sites.
Anne McGowan, widely known in the construction world as “Safety Anne,” has spent nearly five decades shaping the next generation of construction leaders at Texas A&M. Her influence extends far beyond training students; she is preparing professionals to lead safer, more efficient, and more productive job sites.
Her edge comes from a rare blend of expertise. McGowan’s dual appointment in Construction Science and Health and Kinesiology allows her to combine heavy industrial experience with emergency medicine and public health, creating a safety program that is both practical and strategically focused on risk management.
Through this cross-discipline approach, McGowan prepares future builders to step onto a job site with clarity and confidence, ready to make decisions that protect workers and keep projects moving. Her influence ultimately strengthens the workforce the industry depends on.
From Paramedic to Master Trainer
McGowan’s path to construction safety began in emergency response. She achieved certification as a State Class AA Paramedic and a National Certified Corrective Therapist, laying the foundation for a career that bridges medicine and industry.
Her initial entry into the field was operational: training workers in the mining sector on some of the world’s largest equipment, including draglines and D-10s. “I came in the back door because I was an EMS paramedic,” she said. “They asked me to do CPR, and that led to me becoming an MSHA instructor.”
That fieldwork culminated in federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) trainer certifications for both General Industry and Construction. McGowan also holds a master’s degree in epidemiology, providing a public health perspective on risk and injury prevention. This combination of medical, industrial and academic experience forms the foundation of her cross-disciplinary curriculum.
Her teaching philosophy emphasizes preparedness and contribution. “Your life is not a rehearsal. You need to be as skilled as you can and have everything in your bucket,” she said.Through this cross-discipline approach, McGowan prepares future builders to step onto a job site with clarity and confidence, ready to make decisions that protect workers and keep projects moving. Her influence ultimately strengthens the workforce the industry depends on.
Teaching Modern Risk
McGowan adapts her instruction to reflect the evolving hazards of the construction industry. Safety has shifted from a reactive measure to a proactive operational priority, directly affecting productivity and profit margins.
“When I first started, safety was only addressed after an incident,” she said. “Now, it is big-time proactive. It is up there, equal with production.”
Drawing on kinesiology and corrective therapy, McGowan emphasizes musculoskeletal health, ergonomics, and injury prevention. She champions the “Stretch and Flex” warm-up program, which she first introduced in mining sites.
The program helps workers avoid chronic injuries, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, which contributes to high workers’ compensation costs, according to the CDC in Washington State's LNI.
Mental health is also a core component of her curriculum. After witnessing the high suicide rate in the construction workforce, she became a national instructor for Mental Health First Aid, certifying every student.
“With just a 27-second conversation, you can lower someone’s stress enough to keep them safe,” McGowan said.
Students also train for emergencies, including opioid and fentanyl incidents, and receive hands-on tools like CPR masks and two-dose Naloxone kits.
Communication is another critical focus. “Language barriers lead to safety factors,” she said, underscoring the importance of teaching MSHA and OSHA content in Spanish for her diverse crews.
Building the Workforce Pipeline and Industry Alignment
McGowan’s work extends beyond the classroom to address industry labor needs. She taught in the inaugural Construction Management Apprentice Program (CMAP), a Texas A&M initiative for high school graduates entering the skilled trades. The program gives students who might not pursue a traditional degree a path into construction while helping alleviate the workforce shortage.
“The young herds are not meeting the older that are getting out,” she said.
She also supervises high school students in Camp ARCH, where participants design projects near the future School of Performance, Visualization, and Fine Arts building. Students draft estimates, visit active construction sites, and participate in safety demonstrations under her guidance.
“We talk about harnesses, fall safety, equipment safety. We give them the information and then have an activity where they can apply it,” McGowan said previously about the camp. Each camper earns an OSHA 10-hour certification, giving them a head start in the field.
McGowan actively collaborates with the Construction Industry Advisory Council (CIAC) to ensure coursework aligns with real job-site demands. “I believe the support we have from industry is untouchable,” she said.
Executive Guidance and Mentorship
McGowan advises industry leaders to actively consult their crews. She recalled one company that avoided an unnecessary $11,000 equipment purchase by asking workers for input. “Go down there and ask the people who actually do it every day,” she said.
Her ultimate guidance is simple but firm: “No job is so urgent that you cannot do it safely.”
Many former students still call McGowan years after graduation. “They can call me anytime, night, daytime, weekend. Whenever you need to call me,” she said.
This accessibility, combined with her cross-disciplinary expertise, makes McGowan an invaluable resource for both students and industry professionals.
For thousands of Aggies, the nickname “Safety Anne” is a testament to a lifetime dedicated to building safer job sites, healthier workers, and a stronger construction workforce. McGowan actively collaborates with the Construction Industry Advisory Council (CIAC) to ensure coursework aligns with real job-site demands.
“I believe the support we have from industry is untouchable,” she said.