Skilled drainage serviceman/supervisor

By MARK STORY

Name: David Herbert

Job title: Skilled drainage serviceman/supervisor

Age: 21

Employer(s): Abigroup Asset Services Ltd; drainage servicemen and drainlayers can also transfer their skills into occupations within treatment plants, pump stations and road contractors.

Qualifications needed: No minimum criteria, but drainage servicemen at Abigroup are encouraged to complete a three-year National Certificate in water reticulation.

Pay and perks: From $11.50 at grade one to $20 at supervisor or grade 8 level. To and from home (after-hour) use of company vehicles.

Career prospects: Foreman, supervisor or self-employment within the water reticulation and wastewater industry.

Working hours: Typically 7.30am to 4pm Monday through Friday, along with some evening and weekend rosters. Abigroup runs a 24-hour, seven-day service so plenty of overtime is usually available. Evening and weekend work can mean a total working week of up to 60 hours.

Q. How did you get into this trade?

A. After I left school I worked in the forestry and housebuilding industry. I moved to Auckland to work for a drainage contractor as a labourer and general hand.

I enjoyed the outside work and the industry's special camaraderie, and have worked for a couple of drainage contractors, learning all the time and progressing through the ranks.

Q. What do you do?

A. I'm part of the Abigroup team that has the maintenance contract for Metrowater's Water & Wastewater.

All my work is outside, around 80 per cent is based on callouts to restore normal service to people experiencing problems with their wastewater, stormwater, and (mains) water supply.

The remainder involves the routine maintenance of water mains and regular inspection of stormwater drains and sewers.

Every day is different. One day I might be down a drain repairing a manhole, unblocking drains, concreting after the repairs have been made or helping with flooding clean-ups.

Q. What's the most important part of the job?

A. Restoring normal services to customers as quickly as possible.

Q. What's the best part of your job?

A. Customer interaction is very rewarding. I get a lot of satisfaction from solving a customer's problem and restoring their water and wastewater services.

Q. What's the most challenging part of the job?

A. Trying to meet everyone's expectations in the shortest possible time can be demanding. During Auckland's recent flooding we received 200 callouts in just one day.

In response to a "Priority One" - the most urgent callouts - we're required to be on site within one hour.

What can also be tricky is correctly assessing the cause of each fault, then deciding on the best approach to fix it and what safety requirements and equipment are required.

Q. What are your strengths?

A. I'm willing to give things a go and I'm not afraid to make quick decisions on what's required to solve problems.

Q. Any interesting one-off jobs?

A. I once had to go 10 metres - the equivalent of a three-storey building - down a hole to install a temporary pump to divert a major pipe collapse.

Q. What kind of training do you get?

A. I'm currently being trained on-site to the National Certificate in water reticulation standard.

As well as lessons on safety, there's also "one to one" on the job training, and instruction in big plant and machinery use. Jobs are now being dispatched to us via in-vehicle laptops, so I'm receiving computer and software training.

Q. What would you tell others considering this occupation?

A. You'll need to be motivated and willing to learn. You need a (car) driver's licence when you start and a light truck licence later. You need to enjoy working outdoors, be prepared to get dirty, often within confined spaces (underground).

Working safely is essential. Good communications are also helpful. Willingness to learn and the ability to focus on the job at hand are essential requirements. You'll also need the initiative to make swift decisions when necessary.