Women and men work side by said in mining projects like Oyu Tolgoi, undertaking development work and operating giant trucks.We interviewed L.Oyunchuluun, Heavy Truck operator at Oyu Tolgoi’s open pit.
Most people think of truck drivers as men. How did you become an operator? Was it what you always wanted to do?
In 2004, I worked as a cleaner at Oyu Tolgoi for a year. One of my managers was a Canadian called Larry and one day he showed us a small forklift called a ‘Bobcat’ and asked if we wanted to learn to operate it. Later that day, he told our Senior Manager and the next morning, me and another women were accepted as trainees for heavy equipment operations. The very next day, my job was changed and I began to learn to operate the CAT 769D, the biggest truck that Oyu Tolgoi had at the time. My training continued for three months. I had never even driven a car before so it was really interesting to learn to drive something so big. After my training, I operated a 60 tonnes CAT 773D for three years. When the open pit mine opened in 2011, I became the company’s first female operator, driving a 290 tonnes Komatsu. It’s hard work and requires really intense concentration.
Is it a difficult job for a woman?
Because I like my job so much, I never get stressed or discouraged. I work on exactly the same level as the men. Sometimes its physically demanding and I have to get help from colleagues to lift the tire pads. They’re really heavy and big. I think female drivers have some advantages, in particular our competency in inspecting our equipment and our commitment to working carefully and safely.
How many female operators are there in the open pit mine of Oyu Tolgoi LLC?
We have a total of 150 operators working in three shifts. Of these, only three are women.
Why are there so few female operators?
Perhaps some women think it is not the right job for them and is to difficult, and some just are not interested. Mining is a difficult job, and very hard work. It’s very noisy in the cabin and I have to wear ear protection all the time. It’s really important to protect people’s health. I take immense pride in my work. Although my family and my mother have not seen the truck that I drive, they are incredibly proud of me.
Tell us about the Komatsu truck that you drive. What’s its size and capacity?
It’s a Komatsu 930E – 4SE dump truck with horsepower between 2,700 and 3,500. It’s very powerful and can go up hill without losing power. As the mine gets deeper, it works more and more productively. It is very durable with reliable electrics. Each tire has its own engine. They say there are around 1,000 of these models at mining sites around the world of which the open pit at Oyu Tolgoi has 28. It’s 15 metres wide and 18 metres long and each tire is about three metres tall. When I stand by a tire, I’m not even half way up it. It can carry a load of 290 tonnes, 60 times more than the Russian ZIL-130s that many Mongolians are used to. It can carry 4.5 tonnes of fuel, enough to operate it for 24 hours at a time.
How do you manage your home life? Do you live in Ulaanbaatar?
I work at the mine for 28 days and then have 14 days off work, back home with my family in Ulaanbaatar. My husband also works at the mine so both of our mothers help with looking after our children.
You said that it requires a lot of concentration to operate such heavy machinery. How are people kept safe at the mine site?
Safety is the most important thing at Oyu Tolgoi. The weather has a big effect on this. When the weather changes, we stop work and assess all the risks and dangers before starting work again. After rain or snow, everything is thoroughly checked to make sure the road and site are safe to drive on. Because some of the roadways are steep, this is incredibly important. At Oyu Tolgoi, we work according to a very important principle: “If a job can’t be done safely, then it won’t be done.” Mining requires team work. My truck is so big, that if I had a tire deflation, I would not be able to see it, so we all closely observe the truck in front, and work together to ensure that we all remain safe.
As an employee of a mining company, what do you think about the development of the Mongolian mining sector?
I think that I have a very nice future. As a young person, I had many dreams and I think my job is helping me to realise them. I love working at a world class mine alongside colleagues who are both professional and friendly. There are many people working here and as a result, with their families, they have jobs, income and confidence in the future.
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