At EXITO we celebrate the success of our trainees. Here is a look back at some of 2009's moments of achievement.
Ready to Tackle Mine Emergencies
Staff at some West Coast mines are better prepared to deal with emergencies in their industry after gaining National Certificates in Underground Mines Rescue.
Thirty-two underground and 20 surface staff at the Stockton coalmine gained this qualification last year with another six expected to achieve it shortly. Five staff at Rapahoe have also successfully completed the course. The recently appointed Station Manager at the Huntly mine is another successful candidate.
Mines Rescue Brigadesmen are capable of being part of a team that carries out all emergency response tasks related to mines rescue. Skills assessed include basic fire fighting and the ability to test for gas in a mine.
The qualification has a significant health and safety component in recognition of the dangers involved with mines rescue.
Recipients were; Andrew McNeish, Craig Bisphan, Lance McKenzie, Russell Smith, Philip Hamill, Trevor Watts, David Stewart, Harold Gibbens, Troy Stewart, Robert Smith, Dene Murphy, Matthew Coll, Peter O'Neill, Colin Vincent, Glen Gibb, John Connell, Andrew Holley, Michael Nolan, Alan Mason, Richard Banks (Snr), Bryan Heslip, Geoffrey Rubbo, Francis Waghorn, Shane Ryan, Ian O'Neill, Douglas Burt, Anthony Waihi, Christopher Menzies, Richard Banks (Jnr), Kevin Pattinson and Gavin Forsyth.
Recipients with their National Certificates In Underground Mine Rescue
Winstones Employees Honored
Fourteen employees of Winstones Aggregates were in the spotlight at the company’s annual conference in Auckland in September. They have all achieved the National Diploma in Extractive Industries (Management) Surface Extraction level 5/6.
Steve Dohnt, Winaggs HR and Safety Manager said: “This is a fantastic achievement. These staff worked hard and now they have an internationally recognised qualification in the Quarrying industry.”
Kevin Walker, EXITO CEO said: “The National Diploma is the pinnacle qualification in industry training. It’s a very big commitment with 300 credits, which is a significant investment in time and effort, so it’s a credit to them they have achieved it within three years.”
Steve said the company philosophy showed a commitment to industry training. A dedicated project manager oversaw the process and all employees were encouraged to work their way through the different levels of training.
The successful Auckland candidates were: Gary Stewart (Whitehall Quarry), Tony Carpenter (Three Kings), Kerry (Rob) Smith (Hunua), Kurt Hine (Puketutu Island), Keith Barber (Hunua), Christina Freeman (Penrose office), Ross Twidle (Puni Sandplant) and Marcus Thomas (Whangaripo Quarry). Lance Gosling (Flat Top Quarry at Whangaparoa), Napier’s Keith Squires and Selwyn Dodd (both Otaika Quarry), Tony Dowd (Otaki Quarry), Robert Paddison (Wellington’s Belmont Quarry) and Geoff Cook from Yaldhurst Quarry in Christchurch also achieved the diploma.
Winstones Aggregate National Diploma achievers with EXITO's Mary Wilson
and Kevin Walker (Centre)
Modern Apprenticeship completed at Fulton Hogan Miners Road
Congratulations to Blair Ferguson (Miners Road Plant Operator) on achieving his NZQA National Certificate in Extractive Industries Operations.
Whilst still at school Blair started working at the Pound Road Quarry on Saturday mornings assisting with general maintenance and odd jobs around the plant.
Upon leaving school he took up the position of a trainee Plant Operator on the Chip Plant at Pound Road. In 2006 he decided he would like to make it his career and took up a Modern Apprenticeship with EXITO.
Blair has become a competent plant operator who now runs the 6.5 millon dollar plant (largest crushing plant in the South Island) at Miners Road. Blair has gained respect from all staff and is a very valued Fulton Hogan employee.
Blair was presented with his National Certificate in Extractive Industries (Operations) Surface Extraction- Level 3 and National Certificate in Extractive Industries (Core Skills) Surface Extraction- Level 2 at a function at Miners Road which was also attended by Trevor Atkinson (Modern Apprenticeships Advisor EXITO), Susi Batterbury (EXITO Training Advisor), Andy Loader (Extractives Trainer/Assessor).
From left; Susi Batterbury, Blair Ferguson, Andy Loader and Trevor Atkinson.
Pike River Coal
David Prouting and Craig Bisphan have finished off their National Certificates in Extractive Industries (Operations) (Level 3) after several years of study in the industry.
The training towards the National Certificates has impacted well on their work practices at Pike River. Craig said the additional skills learned could be transferred to the workplace, and their qualification gave them the confidence to pass on these skills to new guys in the workplace.
David found the training had some personal benefits as well as at work, saying it boosted his confidence after not having studied since high school. “After the first couple of papers I got into the mindset and then it was quite easy,” he said.
From left; David Prouting, Neville Rockhouse (Safety and Training Manager) and Craig Bisphan.
Ravensdown Geraldine Lime
On a sunny day reaching 30 degrees we surprised Chris Gilbert working up on their plateau at Geraldine Lime. Chris has been there for around five years and completed the requirements for his National Certificate in Extractive Industries (Introductory Skills) Surface Extraction (Level 2) at the end of 2009.
Amongst his normal workload Chris manages to find time to eradicate the local possum population, with his bare hands no less.
Quarry Manager Paul Johnston, along with a friend at the Otago Daily Times put together an appropriate emblem for his loader that you can spot in the picture here. Those possums will need their hard hats on if they’ve got Chris after them!
Ravensdown Fertiliser has embarked on a serious programme of upskilling all their Operators, Supervisors and Managers. All Quarry Managers are working through the National Diploma and will be spending a few nights on the books over the next few years as they work through the level 5 and 6 unit standards.
This is a great initiative, keep up the work guys!
Paul Johnston and Chris Gilbert
Christchurch Ready Mix
Several Christchurch Ready Mix employees have achieved their National Certificate in Extractive Industries (Introductory Skills) Surface Extraction (Level 2) and National Certificate in Extractive Industries (Operations) Surface Extraction (Level 3)
As we walked out to the loader Bill relaid a story about working through the units for his A grade with Trainer/Assessor Andy Loader. After three straight days of training and trying to take in all the information, he’d had enough. As he got up and walked to the door Andy also moved to the doorway and stood blocking him. Andy simply said, ‘if you can get past me, you can leave’. Eyeing up Andy’s stature, Bill turned around and sat back down in his seat without a word.
He thanks Andy for keeping him going, and from there has worked on through the A grade and the National Certificate in Operations with his workmates.
It just goes to show, a trainer has to have a number of tactics in their tool box!
From left; Bill Pascoe, Gavin Parker, Phil Hawkins and Ian Hancox.
Stevenson Resources - Ohai Mining
Stevenson Resources started in 2005 with a contract under Solid Energy NZ for opencast coal mining operations in Ohai, Southland, and produced 300,000 tonnes annually. The site presented some challenges having been previously mined underground.
They stopped extracting coal in June this year and have been busy with the rehabilitation of an old opencast pit. As Mandy Rattray (Office Administrator) commented
“It has taken some of our guys a bit of adjustment coming from bulk overburden removal, but we’ve ended up with a good multi-skilled team”.
The guys have certainly done well and finish up with their National Certificate in Extractive Industries (Introductory Skills) Surface Extraction (Level 2) and National Certificate in Extractive Industries (Operations) Surface Extraction (Level 3), to reinforce their skills in the mining trade. These were presented by their Auckland Management team, in time for a well earned Christmas break.
From left; Top - Barry Sarginson, Ronny Van Engelen
Bottum - Irvine Pearce, Stephen Cooney, David Drain & Trevor Stirling
Stracon Mining Employees
Contracted to Oceana Gold, Stracon Mining have the job of stripping the gold bearing ore at the Globe Progress Mine in Reefton. In 2008 Oceana Gold processed 76,000 ounces of gold out of 1,300,000 tonnes total ore moved by Stracon Mining.
Armed with a bag full of Tim Tams, Extractives Training Advisors Mary Wilson and Susi Batterbury arrived at the doorstep of Stracon Mining around smoko time, to present employees with their National Certificate in Extractive Industries (Introductory Skills) Surface Extraction (Level 2)
Andrew Tucker was very pleased to receive his framed certificate and said it “…this has really made my day!” as he posed in front of one of his 777D trucks.
Philippa Buchanan was equally happy after all the work she has put in, and posed cheekily with Safety Coordinator Don Auckram with tongue out. Terry Hart, on night shift, also completed his level 2 national certificate.
Philippa and Andrew had graduated from the Tai Poutini Digger School and were taken on by Stracon Mining.
Congratulations guys on your efforts, and of Paul MacMillan and Robert Watson, Stracon Assessors who have guided their staff through.
Andrew Tucker with Extractives Training Advisor, Mary Wilson
Philippa Buchanan with Extractives Training Advisor, Susi Batterbury
Fitzroy Engineering
Noel Gillie and Simon Miller’s walls at home are going to be full with all the National Certifciates they’ve achieved for themselves. They have just completed their National Certificate in Blaster Coating; (Core, Confined Spaces, Workshop and Exterior strands), Level 3 and their National Certificate in Blaster Coating (Supervision), Level 4.
Having Sonny Vaafusu on site as their Workplace Assessor has progressed these guys through the qualifications, it was only a matter of Sonny keeping up with Simon’s enthusiastic pace!
With Fitzroy trainees often working off-site it’s a juggle to get them together for assessments, but Fitzroy are certainly working on it.
Simon Miller with his National Certificate in Blaster Coating (Supervision) Level 4
Training a blast at Fletchers
Fletcher Challenge Construction at Drury held a morning tea/BBQ to congratulate Ivan Rogers and Anthony Craven for achieving their first National Certificate in Blaster Coating.
Operations Manager Dave Jewell was very clear on Fletcher’s approach to training, telling the 35 staff who attended that they support it 100 per cent.
Ivan, who has moved into a role managing the blast booth, said the qualification was “not as hard as it looks”. Anthony said every job was like a jigsaw, and he is now figuring out how to blast, prime, sand and paint a nine tonne cement tanker.
Congratulations guys and thanks to Assessor Krystyna Campbell who is leading the men on to their Level 3.
From the left: Ivan Rogers and Anthony Craven receive their certificates
with manager, Warren Rogers
