VEIDEKKE
Olivia Ejdervinge
The miner who
lights up the tunnel
Veidekke are building the Bromma–Henriksdal sewage tunnel beneath Stockholm, in partnership with the city’s water and waste company. The 7 kilometre tunnel will meet the capital’s growing needs and modern standards for sewage treatment.
The project is a collaboration between different experts and workers, from engineers to mining workers like Olivia Eidervinge. She is a key link in assuring the tunnel’s stability and long-term sustainability.
Olivia is one of the two women working alongside the men. Every other week she swaps her steel toe caps for riding boots and works with her horses. Let’s get to know her better.
What’s your job in the tunnel?
“Miner is the collective noun for my line of work. We take care of everything to do with actually driving the tunnel, from boring and blasting to reinforcing – all kinds of things. Everyone has their own speciality, and mine is sprayed concrete and blasting. But I can do other things too, so we all help each other out.”
“I wouldn’t say I have the ideal background for mining! I was a stylist, make-up artist and nail technician before. But my interest in more ‘male’ occupations led me here, along with a bit of luck. A friend of mine had a company that was helping Veidekke with groundworks, and I helped out for a couple of days. Then the head of the mining department got in touch and wanted me to start as an apprentice. He had a vision of having the first all-female mining team, and I was one of the three girls he took on as apprentices. The others had been to mining school, but I was starting from scratch. I leant everything as I went along.”
Shift work and teamwork
“One of the things I like most about my job is the shift work. Working long, hard days one week and then having a whole week off is great. For me the work ethic, the friendship and the connection between us workers is very important. Because we work such long shifts together and live at the same establishment (with shared common areas), creates an unusually strong cohesion. The work is tough and heavy going, but that’s what I love about it.”
“I spend my weeks off working with my horses, and it doesn’t get better than that! I love absolutely everything about horses. I have three I travel around and compete with, and a few others I train. That’s my thing, my big passion in life. Actually, I think I spend just as much time with my horses as I do at work. They’re my four-legged workmates, but with a bit more jumping, hay and carrots. ”
Their own concrete
“While we were working on the tunnel, we decided to take matters into our own hands and start making the concrete ourselves. All four of us miners went on courses to learn the art, and it was actually harder than we thought! But being able to mix our own concrete has been a real game changer. We no longer have to book trucks in advance or worry about running out in the middle of a job. It makes our job more flexible and we save time, energy and money. If a machine breaks down we can stop concrete production a while. It feels great to learn and be a part of something like that.”
Every millisecond counts
“I’ve also learnt more about blasting during the project. We do a lot of special blasts for vibration-sensitive areas in the tunnel. We blast close to existing spaces where there are already pipes that produce sludge, so we have to be careful not to rupture anything. It’s a real challenge sometimes. Every millisecond on every electric detonator is crucial, as are the barriers for others in the tunnel system. Blasting in a safe, controlled way is a big responsibility, but it’s something we love doing together every day.”
The perfect combo
“Being a miner is a bit like riding: it’s tough, requires commitment, and it’s no bed of roses. I think my experience with horses has helped me feel at home as a miner. Both professions are about courage, single-mindedness and daring to take on life’s challenges – whether they’re on horseback or underground.”
Preconceived ideas about women
“I don’t really notice I work in a male-dominated industry. I’ve never felt undervalued or differently treated. We help each other out and I feel as capable as my male colleagues. We know we’re not always as strong, but we’re just as good at what we do. There are so many machines now that make things easier and enable more equality. I think the key lies in focusing on solutions and working together as a team. Then, we can do anything.”
Take the first step
“If you’re interested in being a mining worker like me, it’s worth getting in touch and asking about the possibility of being an apprentice or trying it out. Companies are far more modern and accommodating nowadays when it comes to women and apprenticeships. More and more people in the industry are starting to realise that women are just as good as men. Veidekke is a good example of a company that focuses on gender equality, so why not get in touch? Tell them I said hi!” Olivia concludes with a laugh.
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