Employee profile - Frank Scott

When Frank Scott applied for a position at the under-construction Blair Athol Mine in 1983 ‘just for a change’ he had no idea that he’d spend the next 26 years at the mine.

Starting out as a cleaner, which included emptying the infamous outhouse ‘thunder boxes’, Frank has had held a myriad of positions with the mine including heavy mobile equipment operator, carpenter, coal plant operator, drill and excavator operator and most recently joined the mine services team.

Frank said a lot has changed since the days crib rooms were tin sheds with benches and the bathrooms were open sheds with shower outlets.

“The biggest change I’ve seen is the culture which used to be more ‘happy go lucky’ and now is much more safety focused,” Frank said.

“The haul road designs back then would have been considered dangerous today — there weren’t any safety rills so we would drive along the edge of a 30 metre drop. In fact, prior to the 80s, we’d hang off a 30 metre rope over the highwall to knock loose lumps off the coal face so they wouldn’t drop down onto the loader operators.”

According to Frank, the changes haven’t been solely in the safety department, remembering a very different attitude towards female employment and environmental awareness.

“When I started in 1983 there were no female operators. They were employed only in the office and in the kitchen, but not in the paddock,” Frank said.

“Environmental impacts? They didn’t even rate a mention. A great example is excess water, which was pumped off site instead of being conserved, tested and dammed like it is now.”

Frank said some of the reasons behind his longevity at the mine was the mixture of new experiences, family and friends.

“I really enjoy my job and the people I work with and a lot of them have turned into good friends. I’m able to keep in touch with my family too, I have worked with my father Brian, who is now retired, and my brother David still works at the mine,” Frank said.

“I think it’s the continuous change that has kept my job interesting – like the move from Blair Athol Mine running a single day shift to operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It was a big shock, and I wasn’t too keen on night shift, but it did enable the mine to become much more efficient and productive.

“There have also been a lot of advancements from technology like the introduction of computers, which I’ve seen improve the way we communicate and plan.”

Frank celebrated 25 years of service with Blair Athol Mine in 2008 and said he has no plans to move on.

“Having worked on the construction of Blair Athol Mine right through to today, when the mine is transitioning to closure, I’m focused on being there when they shut the gate and turn the lights out for the last time,” Frank said.

“The mine has been such a big part of my life and I’ll be sad to leave, but I’ve got some great memories that I’ll always have.”

ON THE SPOT

What does your job entail?
Continually changing pumps, cables, pump lines, changing from pumps to blasting, to road works – and assisting with the setup of 25 year celebration barbecues.

What do you do for fun?
I enjoy the local league and union football and have a hobby farm of grain and cattle

Tell us one interesting thing about you your colleagues don’t know.
I’m a secret rose gardener – particularly of pink and red roses. I started growing them nine years ago when my mother, who loved flowers, passed away.

Read our second employee profile for December, Peter Constable from Hunter Valley Operations.