From technology to safety
Sven started his career in maintenance and then with inspections of large installations: vibration measurements, thermography, you name it. He learned the discipline of the large chemical companies, where no bolt is tightened without a procedure.
In 2018, he made a conscious choice: to use his technical knowledge to help companies smaller than BASF or Total move forward. After all, SMEs also need safety, just on a different scale.
“Many small companies are already doing safety, but it is often not documented anywhere,” he explains. “I help them to structure what is happening on the shop floor into plans and documents that are legally required. It’s the difference between ‘we do it’ and ‘we can prove it’.”
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A practical safety philosophy
His approach is hands-on and avoids unnecessary administration. Sven does not see safety as a file in a folder, but as a way to let people go home safe and sound. He invariably emphasizes that an accident not only affects the employee, but also a family.
That is why, in the event of incidents, he looks beyond “not paying attention for a moment”. What were the circumstances? Was the communication clear enough? Was the material in order? Training followed?
He vividly remembers an incident with an aluminum profile that fell from a height. Not only was the cause investigated, but especially the awareness that it sharpened among everyone on the construction site.
Sector in motion
The challenges in the sector are significant. On average, 30 fatal victims fall each year due to working at height in Belgium: more than one per week. “That figure stays with me,” says Sven. “And the impact is enormous: for the families, but also for colleagues who witness the accident.”
On top of that comes the reality of international teams, often with language barriers and differences in equipment. Working with colleagues from Croatia, Romania or Portugal can be an enrichment, but also a risk when safety instructions are not properly communicated. New legislation does prescribe basic training courses, but monitoring equivalence is almost impossible.
Safety coach at Port of Antwerp Bruges
Via Carine (account manager at Netwerk), Sven ended up at Port of Antwerp Bruges in 2021. It became a match. In a brand new role as a safety coach, he stands between the project teams of the port company and the contractors.
His range of tasks is broad: preventively assessing risks, screening contractors’ methods, but also being ready when an incident occurs. He unburdens the project teams who do not always have the time or expertise to follow up on everything themselves. That approach paid off: after two years, his contract was renewed.
Resistance and leadership
Not everyone is always eager for safety rules. Sven remembers an incident in which a worker tried to intimidate him with a water hose. His approach? Take distance, let emotions subside, and then objectively put facts on the table.
Crucial here is the support of his supervisor Glenn de Lange. “He always stands firmly behind his team,” says Sven. “That gives confidence, even in difficult discussions with contractors.”
Large projects, great lessons
Sven is co-managing safety on some of the largest projects in the port of Antwerp. At the Zandvliet lock, the Europa Terminal is being redeveloped, complete with new quay walls and automated systems. At INEOS Project One, he sees how almost half of a brand new factory is being built from the ground up in just two and a half years. And in the dry docks of EDR, he experiences the impressive scale of ships being dry-docked from the front row.
Yet he also assists small contractors, such as local construction companies where risk awareness is still in its infancy. “An accident in private residential construction can be just as dramatic as on a mega project,” he says. “Only the approach and communication are different.”
Looking ahead
When asked what he would advise his younger self, Sven answers without hesitation: to have faster confidence that every challenge can be solved. He remains eager to learn and follows training courses and certifications to keep up with the sector.
In the next fifteen years, he expects safety to change significantly, through technology but also through societal evolutions. He himself does not see change as a threat, but as an opportunity to grow.
Safety with impact
Today, Sven makes a difference every day through Netwerk. Whether it’s structuring safety plans for an SME contractor or guiding mega-projects in the port, his goal remains the same: to ensure people get home safely.
Or as we sometimes say: “A working day is only successful if everyone is back with their family in the evening.”
Podcast
We spoke with Sven for the Netgazet. Interesting chat that we don’t want to withhold from you. Feel free to let us know what you think!
Cool project?
Would you like to work on such a cool project after reading this article?
Then contact Carine and discuss your future career together!
Carine Joosen
carine@netwerkgroup.com
+32 483 76 60 32
