Not just for boys... PART FOUR
Kinegar Quarries Ltd has long been a Volvo customer and now only operates Volvo machines at their Glenfin Quarry. It was great to hear that Kinegar has a female operator working for them so Amy Metcalfe travelled to Scotland to meet Lea Laughlin, a machine operator there for nearly four years…
22 THE VOICE MAGAZINE No29 2017
Five years ago Lea was working in a local pub but upon hearing that it was set to close she found herself looking for a new job. Lea heard about an opening at the quarry from her partner Douglas, applied for the job and was successful. Lea comments, “The job was based in the sand quarry and I was working in the bagging shed and office. This is where I first came into contact with machinery as I was using the forklift to help fill and load bags of sand.”
There wasn’t enough work to keep Lea busy though and after a
colleague in the quarry retired Lea began operating one of the Volvo loading shovels. “I had a couple of 10 minute lessons to see how I got on and then I completed my ticket three and a half years ago,” comments Lea. “I began loading lorries and then trained in operating the dump truck, excavators and crushers. I now operate any of the machines depending on what needs to be done each day.” Lea adds, “When I first began loading lorries the drivers would talk to me beforehand and then when I hopped into the loading shovel a look of horror would often appear on their face as though I didn’t know what I was doing. Some of them even tried to give me instructions. The drivers all know me now and it makes no difference that I’m a female – I’m just one of the team.” Lea even manages to fit work around family life. She mainly works during school hours in the week and on Saturdays. In summer months,
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