As part of our ongoing series celebrating long-serving colleagues, we caught up with Kevin Harrison, High Mast Operative (and integral pillar) in our Contract Services Team.
Working as a High Mast Operative, Kevin is able to carry out the installation and maintenance of all CU Phosco High Masts, as well as being a fully qualified lift supervisor and slinger signaller, enabling him to manage lifting operations
2024 marks Kevin’s 20th year at CU Phosco, which has seen him work around the world, on a number of key projects.
“Kevin, what’s a day in the life of a High mast Operative? What does your day typically look like?”
If I’m working from home, my day starts like most people; with a coffee. When I get into the office, I find out what my day is going to look like.
One of the joys of this job is that every day is different, one day we could go out and carry out maintenance, another we could be building masts or taking them down or setting up CCTV cameras all over the country.
It suits me to a tee, because I couldn’t go back to factory or foundry work, I want to be on the road and that’s exactly what this job gives me.
If I’m working abroad, it would be very similar. Except we’d start at the hotel, find coffee and some breakfast, and then head to site to start work.
“What countries has this role taken you to?”
I’m lucky to have been able to travel for work, I’ve been to Ireland for loads of different jobs, but my favourite was Malta International Airport.
We’d installed a load of CU Phosco masts at the airport, then it was our job to show the staff how to correctly maintain them. It gave all of us an enormous sense of pride to pass on our knowledge to completely new colleagues and see them correctly carry out what was required.
“What have been your most important achievements whilst you’ve been at the company?”
On a personal level, this job has helped me pay my house off, and it got me and my family through COVID, which I know how difficult it was for everyone, it was such a confusing time.
On a professional level, we did a big job in Glasgow Junction 15, on the M8 last year, I cannot begin to tell you how cold it was, but me and the team persevered, and we were all proud to get that one done. Like I mentioned before that job in Malta, being able to show off my expertise to a new team from a different country was a great achievement.
Lastly, the amount of knowledge I’ve gained from my colleagues, whether it’s Bob Gaskell, Victoria Pearce or any one of my colleagues, I’ve learnt so much from them, which has only made me better at my job.