Do you also have ambition?

A.Hak Leidingbouw is needed for the renovation and expansion of pipelines. “Once the plans are ready, we can get started. Pipeline construction is very rewarding work and we’re still learning every day,” says Dennis van de Bovenkamp, supervisor at A.Hak Leidingbouw. Dennis has been working at A.Hak since 2015. He started as a groundworker and now works as a supervisor.

When we arrive, Dennis is busy discussing preparations for a pipe-pulling operation with his team. After half an hour, everyone knows what needs to be done, and Dennis indicates it’s time for a cup of coffee and a chat. As soon as he takes off his hard hat in the site office, he proudly talks about his work and his team. “I manage well with the people I have on the team now. Everyone knows what they need to do. Of course, guidance is necessary, but broadly speaking, things run smoothly and naturally. We know how the game works.”

Dennis continues: “I sometimes worry about the future with the aging workforce, lack of new recruits, and the increase in work within the energy transition. It’s important that we’re extremely careful with the people we have on board. It’s anything but standard work. The people we currently have in the A.Hak circle really possess a wealth of knowledge and experience.”

The Hakkers know how the game is played
A.Hak has its own safety instructions well in order. Gasunie’s golden rules of safety also apply to this work. Before people start work, they receive a start-work introduction, there are regular toolbox talks, workplace inspections, and people address each other about unsafe situations. Good ongoing communication with each other is part of safe work.

Knowing risks is looking ahead
A Hakker knows what kind of work we do and what risks this entails. If we look ahead together, we can cover a lot of risks. But sometimes things don’t go as you want them to. Dennis: “That’s just how it is, and that’s exactly when we make an effort to solve it well. When we get new people, we make this clear to them too. Good behavior is continuing to communicate with each other about safe and unsafe situations and being able to solve problems together.”

Always going home satisfied
As a supervisor, Dennis finds it very important to work as a team. “We know we can build on each other and have a team in place. Everyone is in tune with each other, work runs more smoothly and safely. And everyone is equally valuable, we need each other to carry out the work. I’m at the workplace myself from 6:30 to 18:30. Yet it doesn’t feel like long days. We can laugh and chat, and we know each other. And when the week is over and we go home early on Friday around 12:00, then the weekend starts. Doing a good job and going home with a satisfied feeling.”

Besides his work as a supervisor, Dennis is also the chairman of Young A.Hak. As part of the Young A.Hak board, he shares his own ambitious attitude with other Hakkers. “You think about the company’s challenges together with colleagues. It expands your network and it’s just also fun to get to know people in your own age group. With people you know, it’s easier to work together afterwards.”