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Profiles in Enrichment tells the stories of USEC employees who have made great contributions to the company or our local communities.
Three years ago, 60-year-old Goldia Pendergrass, who had worked at USEC’s Paducah plant in various capacities for more than 30 years, started a new career as the plant’s locksmith. Along the way, she discovered the most enjoyable and satisfying work of her professional life.
“This is by far the most interesting work I’ve ever done. I love it!” Goldia said. “It’s very interesting, there’s always something new and I never know what the day will bring.”
The locksmith is responsible for installing, maintaining and repairing the thousands of locks that secure the vast array of structures and containers at the plant. On any given day, Goldia may spend time in her shop repairing locks, making keys and handling paperwork, or she may be called out anywhere in the plant to retrieve a broken key, install a new lock, replace one that’s been damaged, or re-set combination locks. She has a tool bag and keeps her can of WD-40 close at hand. “It’s a locksmith’s best tool,” she explained.
Locks and keys at the plant are grouped into categories. For example, “security” locks include padlocks and combination locks that secure vaults, classified storage containers and gates. The collection of “administrative” locks include those found in offices, storage rooms, cabinets, file cabinets, desks, lockers and more. The locksmith is also responsible for the locks and keys associated with the Lockout/Tagout (LOTO) safety system.
“LOTO locks are assigned in several ways” Goldia explained. “There are department locks, permit locks, tag locks and personal locks.” She said that while some groups may have only 15-20 LOTO locks, others, such as Cascade Operations, have hundreds. All the locks are numbered and the locksmith’s electronic tracking system can quickly trace the assignments.
Before she applied for the locksmith position, Goldia worked for 14 years as the plant’s mail clerk, making daily runs to the post office and collecting, sorting and distributing mail. Knowing that the previous locksmith, Gary Duncan, was nearing retirement, Goldia decided to attend locksmith training and apply for the job. She was selected, becoming only the fifth locksmith in the plant’s 53-year history and the first woman to hold the job.
Goldia credits her fellow employees in the Paint/Carpenter/Lock Shop with easing her transition to a “hands-on” craft. “The guys I work with have been tremendous. They have accepted me in their world. I couldn’t have made it without their support,” she said.
Goldia said her husband, Al, who retired from the plant’s Computer Maintenance Group a few years ago, has also been very encouraging. “He always tells me, ‘You can do it!’”
Goldia and Al have six children, 10 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. They love to camp, fish and spend time with family. Goldia is known as a great cook, something her fellow employees appreciate. “I always try to make something for their birthdays,” she said with a smile.
Goldia hopes to retire herself in 2012. But until then, she’s enjoying her unusual and important job, and touts the value of pursuing new opportunities: “I always tell people you can do anything you set your mind to,” Goldia said.