Jérémy’s career path reflects his passion for his job as a bulldozer operator. Today, based in Crépy-en-Valois (60), he reflects on his career path and his work as a “bullish analyst.”
Meet a man who is passionate about machinery and fieldwork.
A course built in the field
I’ve been working at ECT for 17 years. I started out as a yard worker for ECT, then moved up within the company. I earned my CACES certification (Certificate of Competence in Safe Operation), which allows me to operate loaders, excavators, and bulldozers. I’ve been working as a heavy equipment operator for 13 years now.
Over the years, I’ve worked on a number of ECT projects in the Paris region, at Buchelay (78), Porcheville (78), Epone (78)or Clichy-sous-Bois (93). But also, in Mazingarbe (62)in the Lens mining basin.
Currently, I am working on the backfilling of the Sibelco Quarry site by ECT in Crépy-en-Valois (60). The Crépy site is special to me. Thirty-eight years ago, my father worked there extracting sand. In a way, it feels like coming full circle.
A profession requiring adaptation and versatility
What I like is the variety of projects.
Every project is different. As a result, the objectives, constraints, and materials vary at each ECT site.The soils used differ from site to site: the shale in the north is not the same as the marl-limestone in Île-de-France. You have to constantly adapt and adjust your working methods.
The finishing work is very different from the process of receiving inert materials. The final shape of the embankments must be formed. Then, the cover soil must be placed. To do this, the original soil is replenished or a fertile substrate. As with the projects in Buchelay (78) and Clichy-sous-Bois (93). It’s challenging, but experience helps you gain mastery.
Autonomy, coordination and teamwork
Versatility is also part of the job and requires the ability to adapt to on-site conditions and the different phases of an operation: the excavator is used for earthwork, digging ditches or constructing steep slopes, or when the soil is too soft to be worked with a bulldozer.
This job is all about balance. You work alone on the machine, with autonomy and precision. But you also work in tandem with the foreman. Coordination is essential.
The variety of tasks makes for a stimulating and technically rewarding workday.
