How Times Have Changed

Written by: Claire Wirsu
Featuring: Alan Horner

When Alan Horner set out from England, in 1966, on a working holiday he never thought he wouldn’t be returning there to live. Comalco has come a long way since Alan started as an Operator in the Potlines in 1971. Come to that, Alan has come a long way too. He no longer works in the Potlines, but works as a Safety and Training Officer in Carbon. This role gives him, as the title implies, the opportunity to go to all areas of Carbon training colleagues in safety.

Like many, Alan came to Comalco not expecting to stay for the rest of his working life. This idea, however, was soon rethought as he came to love the work, people and Comalco spirit.When Alan began working at Comalco in 1971 he was on the Potlines, often working seven days a week, eight hours a day. At times he worked even longer hours. His work was hard and tiring but the mateship kept spirits high and made the work easier. Since he has been at Comalco, he has seen many changes. The one most memorable is when Union involvement stopped. This gave employees much more freedom with no pressure to work overtime, flexible hours and better working conditions.

Many long-term Comalco employees can really speak from experience, when they say that work was tough and taxing for both mind and body. Issues regarding noise and air pollution, not to mention risks using machinery, were part and parcel of their working lives. Thus, the camaraderie within different areas of the plant offered support and kept fears at bay. Comalco has come a long way in working with employees and addressing many health and safety issues.

Alan Horner is well qualified for his current role, promoting health and safety, and having first hand experience of the harsh and tiring work conditions of the past. He therefore sees great value in making improvements for his colleagues. Anyone who visits Comalco now, even a visitor, must adhere to very strict safety and security procedures.

Alan speaks quite stridently about the fact that young people today have it easy compared to the youth of his day. To hear him and others speak of past work experience, it is easy to understand his stance. In fact, it is undeniable that technology and workplace standards regimes have certainly made life easier for all. Many who have toughed it out with their hard toil have achieved a much higher standard of living – a standard which many young people take for granted.