Oleksii Dub has been working as an oil and gas production operator for more than 48 years. His work involves maintaining vacuum lines, making daily rounds, checking equipment and dealing with faults.
His story is about experience that can only be gained on the job, teamwork and encounters with wildlife.
On his work
“My job is to keep an eye on the lines that carry gas. What I like is that I get to spend a lot of time outdoors. I usually walk five to seven kilometres a day, checking the equipment and looking for any faults. If I find one, I need to put it right as quickly as possible.”
On difficult situations
“The hardest part of the job is finding a leak in a vacuum line. The pipelines are underground, so it is not always obvious where the problem is. Sometimes we have to shut off individual sections and work out where air is getting into the system. Bad weather can make the job difficult too, especially when the rain goes on for days.”
On teamwork
“Working well with your colleagues is essential in this job — you cannot do everything on your own. We work as a crew. If there is a problem or something is not quite right, we help each other, talk it through and share what we know.”
Advice for younger colleagues
“The main thing I would tell young people coming into the profession is to take their work seriously and be responsible. If you see a problem, deal with it. And if you are not sure what to do, do not be afraid to ask someone for advice or speak to your supervisor.”
On the wildlife he has seen during his rounds
“Years ago, when the forests were in better condition, you could see all sorts of animals while out on your rounds — roe deer, foxes and hares. I even saw a wolf once. It was quite a long way off and did not come near me, but I still remember it well.”
