Crucial craftsmanship: Collin Goedegebure

Collin Goedegebure is a technician/supervisor at DNWG. What does 'crucial craftsmanship' mean for him? 'We also keep an eye on each other; it is not nice to see a colleague who is overworked.'

>What makes your work of vital importance? In other words, why is your work important for the organisation and society?

'As a technician/supervisor, I carry out maintenance and inspections on high-voltage installations together with my team. We remedy failures, draw up work plans and exercise safety oversight. Most of the time, we do this in Zeeland, but we have also started doing so closer to Rotterdam recently. It is a very wide and varied job. If we don't do our job, the likelihood of failures increases significantly. And that's when the lights go out.'

>How do you recognise a professional in your field?

'We are immediately recognisable by the company vehicles and our work clothing, of course. That way, you can easily recognise a skilled professional. The real stars for me are my colleagues who have been in the job for years and who, 9 times out of 10, have the answer to your question. We also refer to them here as "our walking encyclopaedias".'

>What has working been like for you during the lockdown? What was different from normal and how did that affect you?

'I have been busy every single day. We now work in smaller groups, and I do all the administration and paperwork from home. Other than that, I haven't really noticed any difference, although it's been quite a different story in my personal life. Football was suspended, the gym was closed and I couldn't go out for a meal with my girlfriend – I could do none of these things. My holiday in the sun in Tenerife was also cancelled. The Veluwe national park was also nice, don't get me wrong, but it was still a shame.'

>How do you ensure that you remain fit and healthy yourself?

'I make sure I get enough exercise and eat a varied diet. A healthy work-life balance is important to me. You should leave your work at work and take regular leave. We also keep an eye on each other; it is not nice to see a colleague who is overworked.'

>What gives you the most satisfaction in your work? In other words, how does your work help you maintain vitality?

'I enjoy my work very much, as it is extremely varied and there is a good atmosphere. I travel around a lot, I have good tools to work with, the supervision is excellent and there are plenty of opportunities for advancement. One day, I do the administration and paperwork; the next day, I am rectifying a fault and spending time outside. It's an ideal combination.'