Implementing a safety, health and environment policy

When did your sweet adventure at Raffinerie Tirlemontoise start?

It was around mid-September 2018, shortly before the start of the campaign in Tienen. Before that I was a freelance consultant. I carried out audits in different companies to measure whether standards and procedures put in place were compliant. One day, a certain job offer was transferred to me. I thought: why not? Raffinerie Tirlemontoise has always been a symbol of the city. I’m from Tienen, so the opportunity to work close to home was something very interesting as well.

Describe a typical work day of yours.

Daily tasks in terms of safety and environment management vary. I may assist in ensuring environmental compliance; there are certain calendars with deadlines that need to be met. All environmental permits need to be prepared in a timely manner, and sent to the competent services. Timing is equally important when incidents or injuries occur, and when appropriate reporting is needed. Of course, this I develop in collaboration with my colleagues at the scene, who are always willing to help and to implement post-incident plans and procedures that have been defined. I’m equally working towards one coherent safety and environment strategy involving and benefitting all the plants of Raffinerie Tirlemontoise. To achieve this, I gradually develop different safety and environment related topics, where, importantly, health will also come into play.

What are simple yet important safety reflexes?

The idea is to work in the long term towards a vibrant safety culture. This goes from someone naturally yet gently alerting their colleagues to comply with safety and hygiene measures so as to rule out hazardous situations, to last-minute reflexes (LMR). For instance: am I visible enough, am I walking on a slippery surface...?  Consider even this simple thought: am I dangerously rushing down the stairs while I shouldn’t? Try and act safely at work at all times.

How has it been for you at Raffinerie Tirlemontoise?

Strategizing and engineering a unified safety and environment plan is something that will take some time, but I can assure you that I can count on some fine, competent an amiable colleagues here. Not a day goes by without me learning something new. The simple fact of not getting in touch with the right person I need, and kindly being redirected to the right ones by my colleagues is for instance an interesting part of my learning process.

What’s your favorite product?

The hexagon cubes of Candico are a fantastic product, but I have this thing for the Cassonade Graeffe: nothing beats a spoonful of it on my crêpes !