Kiwi Women in Cranes
Q. Where and when and what level did you start in the crane industry?
A. I started working for Smith in 2013 in Christchurch. I was on the demolition team taking down earthquake-damaged homes on the cliff tops around Sumner. This was my first experience of the industry and I was working with Brett Price who was operating Smith’s Kobelco 7150. He actually encouraged me to pursue the crane industry as a career.
Q. What are you doing now?
A. I’m operating Smith’s Terex CTT721/40 tower crane. We’re currently contracting for Hawkins and are constructing the new Royal NZAirforce hangars at Ohakea which will eventually house four new P8A Poseidon aircraft (replacing our current Orion maritime surveillance aircraft.) Smith has five cranes on the site and the scale of the project is impressive. I’m also currently training as a mobile crane operator and spending some time on the ground with the boys as a dogman.
Q. What do you most like about your job?
A. It’s like playing giant Tetris! (a puzzle video game.) Each piece of the structure we’re assembling has to be put together from the base to the top. I really enjoy the challenging aspects of my job and that there are plenty of opportunities to learn more.
Q. What’s good about working in the crane sector?
A. It’s given me the opportunity to travel all over the country and I’ve worked with lots of different people on a variety of projects. Smith also has a really good team of people who I enjoy working with.
Q. It’s mostly men working with cranes; any insightson how that’s been for you?
A. I think there are always challenges in any industry or sector that’s predominantly made up of one gender The guys on my team always have my back and treat me like I’m just one of the boys. When there have been very rare or isolated incidents, I also know that I have the support of all the management team, from my supervisor through to theowner, Tim Smith.
Q. What future do you see for women in the industry?
A.It would be great to see more women working with cranes. As it’s not recognised as a trade apprenticeship, though, itcan be hard to draw men or women into the industry.
Tim Smith, Managing Director, Smith Crane and Construction (SCC) says after joining the team during the Canterbury Earthquake Recovery, Sarah’s previous work experience as an STMS, great attitude and personal drive opened the door for her to train as a Rigger Dogman. “Traditionally it’s a male dominated industry; Sarah is a fantastic example of the changing attitudes towards women working in the Crane and Construction Industry. As one of our highly experienced and respected Tower Crane Operators who gets on well with her colleagues, Sarah has learnt the ropes, ground up, before progressing onto the cranes and is one of a growing number of women working for SCC. Tim says with an eye for accuracy, excellent work ethic and valuable part of the wider team, Sarah has always been an asset on any construction site and to SCC. “Sarah’s expansive portfolio of qualifications demonstrates the scope and variation available for career progression in this industry while learning on the job and being part of a sustainable construction workforce in NZ,” says Tim Smith.
Sarah Staples - Smith Crane and Construction
