While many may still think that the cutting, welding and grinding industry is an exclusively male domain, five women in pivotal roles at First Cut – a leading South African provider of cutting, welding and grinding consumables and equipment – and its sister company Gas Safety International (GSI) show unequivocally that this is a commonly-held misperception.
So says Ian McCrystal, First Cut CEO, who explains: “We are very proud that our company culture fosters the growth and progression of women within the industry sectors that we service – which includes a strong focus on engineering and mining.
There are no barriers to entry for women at First Cut or at our sister company GSI. This is proven when we look at the example of five key women in our companies, who work across various divisions in different roles.”
Melanie Kearns, National Product / Sales Manager – Equipment and Seminars, manages the sales for the compressed gas training provided by GSI, as well as oxyfuel product sales. GSI provides certified compressed gas safety training and quality gas equipment to a wide range of sectors, including welding, to ensure a safe and efficient working environment.
Kearns says, “Our compressed gas safety training courses are of critical importance, because of the high risk attached to working with compressed gases.
“The training we offer enables attendees to identify risk factors, and empowers their employees to manage these risks accordingly. GSI training is also accredited by the ECSA (Engineering Council of South Africa).
“Typically, our seminar attendees include management, artisans and operators; as well as laboratory employees and other support staff. Although many are from the mining industry, the training is applicable to all users of compressed gas.
“I am so excited to see a lot more female delegates attending our training too. The number of women in technical roles today – in comparison with a decade ago – is extremely heartening! Gender diversity in industries such as mining is definitely gaining traction, and I trust will continue to do so.”
Kearns’s longstanding colleague, Executive Assistant Anneke Hofmeyr, is another key member in the GSI team. She supports GSI’s Managing Director Peter Rohlssen, demonstrating that administration and organisational excellence contribute enormously to GSI’s compressed gas safety training success. Hofmeyr and Kearns are both dedicated to promoting compressed gas safety in industry, and are testimony to the success of women in this sector.
Demonstrating her expertise in the gas safety training and risk assessment arena is GSI’s Training and Risk Assessment Officer Thabelo (‘Thabs’) Rabedzwana. With over 20 years of experience, Rabedzwana is passionate about gas safety training.
“Stringent safety is imperative when it comes to welding as well as gas cutting, heating and brazing,” she says, “and this applies across all industries.”
Rabedzwana endorses colleague Melanie Kearns’s input when she adds: “I am seeing an increasing number of women interested in welding. I have also seen female welders being promoted to the role of boilermakers, which is relatively new in recent years and a very encouraging sign.”
First Cut’s Regional Sales Manager for Mpumalanga, Zelda Vorster, also believes that women are now able to take their rightful place within the industrial arena.
With regards to the issue of being ‘a woman in a man’s world’, Vorster notes: “In my opinion, this has definitely been changing over the past five to ten years. I am certainly seeing more women throughout industry. I think the playing fields are being levelled, and I welcome this.
Jacolene Fourie, Sales Representative at First Cut, is also of the opinion that the industry is opening up to women. “I think it is fair to say that more and more women have been able to enter the industrial sector over the past few years,” she says.
“I have seen the situation changing throughout all areas of engineering and manufacturing: from the warehouse to the shopfloor and in procurement. Women are easily able to play a key role in our industry, especially considering their strong attention to detail. I have observed our GSI colleague Thabi Rabedzwane’s training courses, and in addition to commending her for her skill, I am also very impressed by her patience, which I believe is a strength that many women bring to the work situation – including in training roles.”
“At First Cut and GSI, we value the dynamic diversity which the women in our companies contribute,” adds McCrystal. “Our five ‘leading ladies’ also offer a wide variety of skills and attributes which – along with their fellow team members’ – all contribute to provision of cutting-edge cutting and welding training, products and service – to the ultimate advantage of our customers and industry as a whole,” he concludes.
