How a Paget engineering firm has adapted since virus crisis

‘We have 220 people employed and we’re still ramping that up’

DGH Engineering general manager Dave Hackett and Resource Industry Network general manager Adrienne Rourke. Picture: Tony Martin

DGH Engineering is on track to record the biggest month in its almost 15-year history, showing no signs of slowing down despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

General manager Dave Hackett said coronavirus had not impacted the number of projects for the locally owned company.

“There’s been a couple of jobs that have either been rescheduled or pushed back – that hasn’t really been because of coronavirus, it’s because of production issues,” Mr Hackett said.

“We are looking at our biggest ever month in April since we have been in business and I don’t think that’s going to change.

“We have 220 people employed and we’re still ramping that up.”

DGH workshop manager Trevor Wellby said the Paget workshop was still going steady.

“We’ve got work well up until the third quarter of this year at this stage,” Mr Wellby said.

“There’s definitely no sign of slowing down with our fabrication side of the business.”

Mr Hackett said the company had been forced to adapt due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but staff were taking the changes in their stride.

DGH has installed several hand sanitiser stations on its sites and advised many of its staff to work from home.

COVID-19 meetings held each morning kept employees working at both the sites and from home informed and connected.

“Increased hygiene and keeping people separated are the main things that have changed,” Mr Hackett said.

Mr Wellby said they had separated the shifts in the workshop and implemented an hour break between shift changeovers to keep employees socially distanced.

“The guys clean the equipment down after every shift. It hasn’t really affected operations in the workshop,” he said.

Mr Hackett hoped for a surge in projects after coronavirus restrictions eased.

“The world has got to start spending money again,” he said.

DGH provides a range of services including engineering, drafting, fabrication, fitting, maintenance and support to several sectors including mining and ports.

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