It’s worth breaking through. Women in the industry

We want to show that it is worth breaking stereotypes, that it is worth breaking habits.

That’s why we ask questions.

• Is maintenance a typically male world?
• What can industrial work offer women?
• What predispositions are worth having?

We asked women working at Ecol in positions that were previously considered typically male.

1. Have you always wanted to work in the technical/industrial field? Where did such an idea come from?

Patrycja (maintenance-greaser, Plock):
The job was recommended to me by my colleague. I found that it was worth trying something new, breaking through in some way and taking on a new challenge. I have not worked in this type of profession before, this is new to me. A new environment and starting from scratch. Today, my workday in maintenance is mainly about inspecting and lubricating machines, as well as replenishing and filtering oils.

Marta (lubricant maintenance worker, Wloclawek):
First of all, I was looking for a new job. And beyond that, curiosity. This has always interested me, although I have never worked in such technical jobs.

Marta M. (technical specialist, engineer, Rybnik):
I always wanted to work in the energy industry. But the fact that I would be dealing with tribology, lubricants and oils turned out only later. I had previously participated in an internship at Ecol, and it was thanks to it that I knew what awaited me during my full-time job. I knew that I would have access to machinery and equipment on large plants.

2. What has been the biggest surprise about working as a lubricator?

Patrycja:
The biggest surprise was the size of the plant I work at. In general, all the work was new to me and many things positively surprised me. This is not a job for everyone, it certainly requires a higher degree of endurance, and conditions may not be comfortable.

Marta:
I was surprised, first of all, by the plant on which I work. All these installations are something new to me. A completely different world, working at height. But all this is acceptable.

The job may not be the easiest, but it all depends on the character. As in any other job, you need to have some basic aptitude. If one has no worries, everything is surmountable.

Marta M.:
The biggest surprise really was what Ecol does. I didn’t necessarily learn much in college about maintenance operations, machine service and oil management. Only later, professional practice showed me what it was all about.

Nowadays, not much surprises me anymore. For that, I watch industries other than energy with interest. Especially the development and rapid technological progress in other industries.

3. What was the reaction of friends and family to the fact that you started working in maintenance?

Patrycja:
At first they were shocked. But the more I talked about my duties, the more my surprise diminished. They are on my side and support me a lot.

Marta:
No one was surprised. On track with everything.

Marta M.:
A few years ago, when I started working, it came as a big surprise to many people. To this day, it happens that I am taken for a health and safety employee by people not from our company.

The topic of “women in industry” is still exotic to some people, especially the older generations. But in my family it was not a surprise, since practically everyone is an engineer.

4. What would you like to say to women who are considering working in the industry?

Patrycja:
I think it’s worth breaking through and trying something new. Things are not always as scary as they seem. Just as a colleague recommended the job to me, I can recommend it to others myself.

Marta:
Everyone needs to give it a try. These are new experiences, new challenges. You can’t be afraid of it.

Marta M.:
First of all, you can’t go wrong. If someone thinks he is up to something, he should go that way. Don’t be alarmed by people who say that industry and maintenance is not necessarily a place for women. Well, and one should not be afraid.

We are pleased that the percentage of women employed in our company is gradually increasing and the ladies in maintenance are proving that this is not a job reserved exclusively for men.

Hanna Piekut, a human resources representative at Ecol, emphasizes the high interest in job opportunities at industrial facilities among ladies. She believes that the key to attracting women to the industry is to clearly communicate the scope, nature and conditions of the work. Which is also what we try to do in the recruitment process.

We, for our part, are warmly cheering on the ladies who have tied their career path to maintenance as part of their work at Ecol.