Image: Glenn relaxing in the Far North. Glenn with Quarry Manager, Jason Hinton.
In our veteran profile series, in association with the IOQ, Q&M magazine talks to Glenn Savage about his career in the extraction industry, one that continues today as a specialist inspector for WorkSafe.
What was your intro to the extraction industry?
I returned after an OE and had been applying for jobs for three months when I successfully got one with Winstone Aggregates’ Belmont Quarry as a Quality Facilitator.
I had not ever thought of a job in quarrying at that point and this role entailed developing systems and managing a quality testing laboratory, so I became very familiar with operational processes and the resulting range of products that were manufactured.
From one rock source we could manufacture over 40 individual grades meeting a range of specifications. That’s where my industry interest and passion began.
I was also lucky enough to be involved with a Winstone Aggregates programme called Pathways that was a two-year training programme involving many industry leaders as well as new starters. I became the Quarry Manager in the mid-1990s and have continued with quarry management until recently.
Tell us about your role with WorkSafe?
Recently, I reached the milestone of 30 years in the extractive industries and thought it would be a good time to share my knowledge and experience with others and the ideal conduit for that would be as a Specialist Inspector Quarries at WorkSafe.
I am one of three, currently, whose focus is on the quarry industry. There are in excess of 1000 quarries throughout the country and this role gives me the opportunity to meet all quarry managers and assist with them in safety-related issues and compliance with the regulations.
Career highlights?
At Waikato North Head I was seconded into the role of Mine Manager for 18 months while two significant projects were implemented at the site.
This was the installation of new magnetic separators with new structure within an operating plant and the construction and installation of a Dry Mining Unit. During that period we had over 100 contractors on site and there was a massive effort by the team to ensure that the projects were completed without any injuries to the contractors nor our workers. This involved a huge effort in setting standards and ensuring that they were met which resulted in a significant change in our safety culture. New Zealand Steel (WNH Mine and Steel Plant) recognised this success by awarding me with the Health and Safety Excellence Award for that year.
What have been your career low points?
When I look back on my career, the time where I did struggle with the roles as quarry manager was when I was still at Belmont Quarry.
The range of responsibilities and accountabilities that I had at the time were huge, and included financial performance, health and safety, environmental, operational, quality control, customer relationships and administrative functions such as order number and invoicing.
I also managed a team who were much older and more experienced than I was. Back then the attitude was still to “harden up” and work longer hours to achieve what was required.
At least we have better support mechanisms now, but I still do worry about the pressures some quarry managers can be under.
Reflections past and present?
There have been huge changes in safety culture since I started. It was almost a badge of honour for a quarry manager to be missing a few digits or having been involved in a serious accident.
Missing head and tail drum guards, gaps in the walkways, smoko rooms with holes in the floors, trucks with no brakes, seat belts or doors are a small example of what I have seen on sites I have been involved with.
Slowly the culture has changed, and I put it down to better regulations of course, and younger people with a different expectation about their work environment. Let’s hope it continues.
Friendships made and mentors?
I have been in and out of the IOQ over the years. I wasn’t encouraged to participate when I first started in the industry so probably missed some early chances to develop long-term working relationships.
I have only been to three conferences, but they have all been well worth it.
However, I have been lucky to work with three exceptional people, even when I first started in the industry. Clayton Heemi was a very skilled operator who showed me what could be achieved with front end loaders, whether it was creating stockpiles, loading trucks, mixing products etc. He is still the most skilled operator I have ever met.
Mike Hooker was a very passionate mechanic who taught me a lot about efficiencies of operating heavy equipment and was aptly able to demonstrate it. He was always keen to explain improvements to the way we extracted, carted and matched our fleet while always doing it expediently.
Both Clayton and Mike were a joy to watch on machines.
Tony Down and Paul Strange are two mates I met in the early 1990s when we all just started out. We were all young quarry managers with young families who would spend time together outside work. I was lucky to catch them at the 2024 quarry conference in Rotorua and we just continued where we left off – still journeymen on the same journey!
One of my great friends is a person I met 20 years ago on a crushing plant in the middle of a forest quarry at Pipiwai, Northland. Jason Hinton has since then developed into one of the more capable quarry managers I know and an exceptional leader of people. He brings enthusiasm, passion, urgency, and mostly humour to the workplace.
Would you do it all again?
Yes, but I would pick different Lotto numbers. And my advice for the young ones entering our industry is ‘work to live, don’t live to work.’