A day in the life of a hydroelectricity plant

A day in the life of a
hydroelectricity plant

Have you ever wondered what it's like to work in the hydroelectricity
industry?

Well, the answer is it's a highly demanding and
stressful world, and not everyone is suited to it.
Despite the pressures, most hydroelectric teams manage to work
closely together, maintaining high standards of commitment
and professionalism.

For them every hour of trouble-free operation is cause for
celebration.

And that's how the senior executive manager of a
hydroelectric plant often starts his working day. A typical morning
shift begins at six with a breakfast briefing. In
keeping with the traditions of the industry he will call for his
colleagues to drink a toast to the engine room and its staff.

The manager usually hands out a couple of cans of
lager to each of his top team - up to six key personnel who
are team leaders in their own right.

Having toasted the engine room they will then drink
to past successes and a fruitful day ahead. This is often - though not
always - followed by another toast to the administrative staff, who
play such a crucial part in the smooth-running of the whole
operation.

At this point more cans are handed out in case anyone is running
short.

Then it's down to serious business. The overnight section leader will
report on any problems that occurred during his shift. For example, a
dozen or so PC monitors may have been smashed during
the night, and he will report on the clear up operation.

After this managers usually allocate a few minutes for more informal
discussions. Each team leader is encouraged to
impart a piece of special news to his colleagues.

It might be something personal such as the announcement of a birthday
or wedding anniversary. Or it might be something to
do with business.

It's part of the tradition, that after each item is announced, the team
leader concerned will drink to the health of his colleagues. This is
usually a dry white wine, though some managers like
to mix this with gin and vodka. There's an unwritten rule at this point
in the day that no one touches sherry or cider.

By 8.30am the meeting breaks up and the managers head off to their
various stations around the site. For the senior manager his first port
of call is invariably the control centre, where he has a small private
office. It's here that he can hold one-to-one meetings with staff who
need to see him.

One of the perks of coming to see the boss is that you get a chance to
share a good glass of claret or port with him. It's
widely agreed that these are the drinks most likely to create a
convivial working atmosphere.

Junior staff feel they can talk frankly and freely with the senior
manager, who they regard as very much one of the lads. It's not unknown
for these sessions to carry on up to and beyond
lunch.

Often other staff will leave their posts to join in the proceedings.
When this happens, extra bottles are pressed into service to
accommodate the additional visitors.

Such are the pressures and demands of the hydroelectric business that
few staff stop for lunch. Most will work through the break, with just a
glass or two of ale to keep them going, or champagne on special
occasions and Fridays.

At 2pm every day a loud klaxon sounds. Staff around the entire
installation switch their machines to "autopilot" so that they can join
in what is known as "Cider hour".

This is the point in the day when everyone can really let their hair
down and say what's on their mind. Problems can be aired, ideas
exchanged, friendships renewed, over a few bottles of cider. This is
the first real opportunity for staff to give vent to any feelings of
frustration they may feel. These sessions can often be angry, bitter
and tearful, but for all that they are always constructive.

Over the years "Cider hour" has taken on a life and culture of its own.
It's now obligatory for staff to indulge in a bit of good-natured
horseplay and joshing. One engineer might pretend to throw some desktop
computers out of the window. Another might press random switches on the
main console just to see what happens.

But all good things must come to a close and it usually falls to the
chief engineer to sound the klaxon at 5pm for the end of "Cider
hour".

At this point the senior executive manager will hold a final briefing
meeting with his top staff to discuss any outstanding points of the
day.

Because it's now the end of the day shift, there is a feeling that
people can relax more and really unwind. Downing a couple of bottles of
sherry at these sessions is pretty much compulsory for everyone.

It is perhaps a measure of the pressurised nature of the work, that
even when the day's shift is over, key personnel will stay on to
discuss pressing issues and try and resolve any outstanding
difficulties. They know that the smooth-running of the whole operation
may well depend on getting these matters sorted.

It's not unusual for up to six staff to adjourn to a bar to carry on
these discussions. Most nights the senior manager and two of his
lieutenants will join in these sessions which rarely start before 9pm
and can go on till the wee hours of the morning.

It's now that the really serious drinking begins. Managers will use the
time to talk business, but there is also a strong competitive feeling
among them and much of the evening will be spent trying to outdrink
each other.

By 2am it's time to leave the bar. A hard core of perhaps three people,
including the senior manager, will spill out onto the sidewalk and
continue their discussions in the roadway. By now a lot of the
frustrations of the day are behind them and the staff can really relax.
It's not unusual for them to start singing loudly, and indulging in a
bit of lighthearted badinage.

Someone in the group invariably manages to pull out a hip flask so that
the party can continue. With nowhere to go the three remaining managers
will probably sit on a grass verge and just share a few memories of the
day, and clear up a few final points, in readiness for the shift ahead.
Sometimes they might pick a good-natured fight with a passer by.

Later on, if they get the chance, members of the group will snatch a
few minutes' sleep by the roadside. Then at about 5.30am in response to
alarm calls on their mobile phones, they will rise and slowly head back
to the office.

Back at base, there's no time to have a bath or change, but a few
minutes with a bar of soap in the men's room is all that's needed to
restore a semblance of normality. Then to kick start their nervous
systems, they take a few more swigs from a hip flask and they're ready
to face another day.

Few industries place such heavy demands on its workers. Few industries
have such high expectations of its personnel. But day after day the
dedicated men and women of the world of hydroelectricity just get on
with their daily routine.

Some say theirs is a pressurised and unhealthy lifestyle. Some say that
too much emphasis is placed on the social side of business. But few can
deny the importance of what these people do. Tomorrow morning, as you
stand in your power shower, blow drying your hair, spare a thought for
those who provide you with the water and power that make it all
possible.