Yes, Women Make Great Operators!

Remember Rosie the Riveter? She became the face of the World War II woman working in the big, rough factory while the men were on the battlefront. It’s ironic that the popular opinion was that women can’t do certain jobs when women did this stuff all the time without complaint.

A look at old photographs show women in factories from the beginning, and women plowing, mining, or doing heavy jobs alongside the men. Often, an entire family would be doing amazingly heavy work, including the kids. That’s not a reason to put a kid in the seat of a bulldozer, but it would be the ability of the pint-sized operator that makes it a bad idea.

This Is A Skilled Trade

What matters with heavy equipment is the skill of the operator, not the gender. There may be some factors with height in certain machines, but that is a safety concern. The hazards of whole-body vibration and awkward posture are universal, according to the CDC. Being female doesn’t make a difference when it comes to sitting at the controls. The training and experience along with the way a job is done make the difference, and it’s a big one.

Where does gender make a difference? Some employers have noticed that women tend to be more interested in improving themselves on the job, seeking out extra training. Because there can be some flak from the guys on the work crew, they also tend to work harder to prove their worth. But again, this isn’t exclusive to women. Men can be equally interested in improving and working hard.

Employers hiring ATS grads are looking for the best person for the job, male or female.