Hanging from the Botlek Bridge to ensure everything runs smoothly

Since it was opened in 2015, the contractor has been carrying out maintenance on the Botlek Bridge on a daily basis. Specific maintenance is required 40 nights per year, leaving the bridge inaccessible for shipping and road traffic. On the schedule for this evening and night in July: greasing the bridge's lifting cables. To carry this work out safely, the bridge must be closed to all traffic.

Greasing the lifting cables is a job that is essential to problem-free operation of the moveable bridge mechanism, which makes around 6.000 movements (up and down) per year. Hanging on ropes, armed with a bucket of grease and, on this occasion, in tropical conditions, they get to work; you need nerves of steel for this job.

Before the maintenance work gets going, we've asked Zoë to tell us more about what she does and how she got into this line of work.

Walk us through what's happening this evening.

'This evening, we'll be greasing the Botlek Bridge's lifting cables. This prevents moisture from getting in, which would corrode the cables and have an impact on quality and lifespan. By using special grease, developed to be used in tough conditions (wind, water and salt), we can keep the cables in good condition. We're doing this to keep the Botlek Bridge accessible and reliable for shipping and road traffic.'

Who are you doing this work with, and how do you go about it?

'There are 12 on the team, 5 people per pier. 4 people are on duty greasing the cables, and 1 person remains at the top to co-ordinate everything and to ensure that we can do our work safely. Beforehand, we have a 'toolbox meeting' to discuss any special issues that might arise during the day, and to run through the safety measures. Then we go to the bridge, where we put on our equipment and split up into two teams to work on the piers. We tackle 2 piers per night, so we work for 4 nights.'

You are literally hanging on a rope above the water. How does that feel?

'It's really cool. When you're standing at the top, ready to descend, you take a look and think "what on earth am I doing?" But it's really great to be able to work in such a wide range of places. One moment you're working on the Botlek Bridge, like this evening. The next, you're hanging from the ceiling of a factory, cleaning it with a vacuum cleaner; that did look quite funny.'

Have you ever felt scared during your work?

'I think that everyone naturally feels a certain level of fear, because fear makes you alert, and it makes you take good care of yourself and each other. Even though there's a team member nearby to co-ordinate things and ensure safety, it's those working with you on the piers who are closest and, if needed, can come to your assistance right away. You build up a strong bond with them.

It is crucial to have faith in the colleagues around you and in the climbing materials you use. To do this sort of work you need to be able to respond well to stressful situations. You run through the steps of a set protocol in your head, which helps you to keep calm.'

How did you get into this sort of work?

'Long ago, I started indoor bouldering. From there I started going outside more, scaling the heights with a rope. Then I met someone in France who did 'rope rescues' in the mountains, which involved rescuing someone who'd had an accident. I thought that was my sort of thing, so I tried to find similar work.

I looked into rope access and got to know the Industrial Rope Access Trade Association (IRATA). IRATA training courses are seen as the best route to working at height: they create world-wide standards with a focus on safety. Via IRATA, I ultimately got in touch with the Rope Access Group, which is specialised in working at height with ropes.

What kind of people do this work? Are they really fit and able to tackle technically-difficult climbs?

'That depends. It helps if you're a naturally active person, but you don't have to be a body builder to do this work. IRATA training courses give you the tools to make this sort of work easier. Knowledge you can use both in theory and in practice. It's also an advantage if you're practically-minded, but you can learn things on the job. I know from experience there are plenty men in this line of work; there's certainly room for more women. Recently, there was a whole team of women working here, but that was the exception that proves the rule.'

How do people at home respond to your work?

'I get a lot of support, but it took my mother a long time to really understand what it is I do. It scares her, but at the same time she finds it exciting. She knows that I have 'extreme' hobbies, and she knows that that's just who I am. My boyfriend also thinks it's cool that I do this; he can boast to his friends that his 'chick' does this work. Of course, when the job's done I have to phone him immediately to say that everything's gone well.'

We follow Zoë during her working day:

8.30 p.m.: Toolbox meeting

The toolbox meeting is where the contractor discusses the work and any particular issues with the team and how safety can be guaranteed. Rope Access Group is doing this work on behalf of A-Lanes A15, the contractor for the Botlek Bridge. This company specialises in maintenance, installation and research in difficult-to-access places (high up or in the depths) using an aerial work platform or scaffolding.

The next 4 evenings have been reserved for greasing the lifting cables. The contractor has already been carrying out maintenance for about 10 years and has mastered most of the technically and logistically demanding challenges, but greasing the cables at this sort of height, while hanging on ropes, is specialist work. To do that, they hire experts who have been doing this for us for many years.

One of the issues raised in the toolbox meeting is the extreme heat. Everyone needs to have extra water with them. After 4.5 hours, everyone is back on the ground. The cables of two piers, in any case, have been fully greased. Tomorrow, two more pears will be greased.