A Jack of all Trades

Written by: Claire Wirsu
Featuring: Richard Howe

Back in the early seventies Comalco had a fast employment turnover due to the hard and exhausting work. However, this being the case, there were many workers prepared to stay and tough it out. One of these people is Richard Howe who has been working at Comalco, since January, 1971.

When asked how he came to be working at Comalco Richard replies with a reminiscent grin, ‘I just walked up to the gates and asked for a job.’ This is an indication of the opportunities for unskilled workers that existed at this time and of the relaxed life that existed. Shades of this are still evident from the cheerful tone of the plant today, although there are much stricter rules when it comes to safety, with safety hats and protective glasses given to all workers and visitors.

Richard considers himself a ‘jack of all trades’ and, given the array of tasks he carries out at Comalco, it is easy to see why. He maintains casting equipment, takes care of cooling water, which is recirculated, and looks after the industrial gases such as chlorine and argon, to see that they are working correctly and that there are sufficient supplies. While looking after all these things Richard has had to ‘move with the times’ as technology and safety procedures have changed.

Along with the many physical differences at Comalco, Richard also notices a difference between the employees of today and employees of the past. Where there used to be 35-38 men per shift casting 50 tonnes of aluminium, there are now a quarter of that number working, and 168 tonnes being cast per shift. One thing that hasn’t changed over the years however, is the humour and spirit of the workers at Comalco. This spirit makes the job much more fun and, Richard says, ‘every day is different, so it never gets monotonous’.

Comalco holds many vivid memories and happy times for Richard. One of these memories was a moment when a piece of molten aluminium metal exploded out of one mould into his pocket. He saw it, grabbed it, but because he had gloves on he couldn’t get his trousers off in time and it burnt his leg. One may not think this a pleasant or happy memory but for Richard it is because he remembers how all the other workers helped and supported him and that, he says, 
is the spirit that makes the heart of Comalco.