How would you describe the start of an average day as a safety consultant in the chemical or petrochemical environment?
Michaël
My days start as soon as I arrive in the factory car park. Do I hear anything unusual? Do I smell anything new? That can set the tone for a work day very significantly.
Stefan
The day of a safety consultant can start in 101 different ways. Once in the factory, the day starts with a cup of coffee. Sometimes, though, you don’t get around to that until the end of your working day.
Michaël
The fact that working in a petrochemical environment is quite diverse means that the safety consultant must be constantly on the alert. What starts as a routine job can quickly become a snakepit.
Stefan
You could start the day by preparing a Risk Analysis or with a meeting. One of us will have a quiet start, the other will immediately face a major challenge throwing any plans for the day completely out the window.
The more experience, the easier it gets?
Michaël
Experience can be a good guide, but you shouldn’t follow it blindly. Experience can also lead to a 'cruise control’ attitude, which must be avoided at all cost. Consciously inspecting a work permit, holding a start-work meeting correctly, doing the Last-minute Risk Analysis when the situation changes are things that are necessary, obvious and good starting principles.
Stefan
Experience makes it easier to get a hearing, respect or feedback. That depends on your own social communication approach to the hierarchical line and the workers. Strict but fair is the right prescription.
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