After twenty years of teaching swimming, Dusty Hoedemaker (39) switched to scaffolding ten months ago. "It was very exciting," she says. "You're leaving something you know inside and out, and moving into a pofession you know absolutely nothing about. And in a man's world, no less."
The idea came from her husband, Dirk, who has been in scaffolding since 1997 and has worked as an inspector since 2009. When Dusty kept running into limitations as a freelancer at the swimming pool, he suggested they work together. "Honestly, I'd never thought about it before. But once I got started, I thought: why not? I didn't want to be tied to all those rules anymore and decided to follow my courage. Despite the nerves, it felt good right away. I'm quite impulsive and thought: I'll just try it for six months. From day one, I had a lot of fun, but I also gave my body time to get used to the work."
In May, she completed her mechanic training at STE with an 89 percent score, and last week she also passed her First Mechanic exam. “I just want to gain as much knowledge and skills as possible. I found the practical side a bit challenging, especially with couplings. At the same time, I find it interesting because everything happens for a reason. Even if you don't use it daily, you build a foundation you can always fall back on.”
About working in a man's world, she says: "I had no expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised. There's humor and camaraderie. Initially, I wanted to prove myself if a man wanted to help me lift something, for example, but now I think: if someone wants to pick up a girder for me, that's perfectly fine. Prejudices are bound to form; that's human nature. They often disappear once they see what I can do."
According to Dusty, scaffolding remains a predominantly male profession. "Men are simply stronger, it's as simple as that. But that doesn't mean women can't do it. It's all about the individual." Tools help with this: "Carts, forklifts, and telehandlers ensure your body lasts longer. It's not for nothing that the Occupational Health and Safety Act (Arbo) allows you to lift a maximum of 23 kilos."
To other women, she advises: "Give it six months, be brave, and just try it. It's hard work, but also fun, challenging, and varied. For me, it sometimes feels like Tetris, but for adults," she says, laughing.
She certainly has every right to be proud. In her first month, she assembled and disassembled a suspended scaffold, an experience that gave her a great deal of confidence. Now that she's earned her First Technician qualification, she's already looking ahead. "As soon as I've gained enough work experience and meet the criteria, I want to take the Scaffold Inspector training course at STE."
Dusty proves that stepping outside your comfort zone often leads to the best opportunities. With courage, perseverance, and a good dose of humor, she shows that there's room for new faces in the scaffolding industry. Her story is an example for anyone hesitant to take the plunge: sometimes it's just a matter of doing it.
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