All-round technician and member of the rope access team at Netwerk Solutions, Pepijn Poortinga (36) consciously focuses on safety every single day, both in his work as a member of the safety advisory group and as a trainee safety expert.
‘Hey Pepijn, make us proud!’ That comment from his colleagues when Pepijn climbs the mast for a photograph is typical of the great atmosphere that prevails within the team. ‘There are about thirty of us climbers and we work together year in, year out. It’s a great way to build a bond. We look out for one another. Right down to sharing coffee and sandwiches! And of course, we always keep a close eye on one another so that at the end of the day, we can all get home safely.’
Fully in control
After graduating from CIOS in Arnhem with a major in outdoor sports and two years of work experience abroad, Pepijn was keen to obtain an IRATA (Industrial Rope Access Trade Association) certificate. ‘VolkerWessels Telecom offered that opportunity, so I started here ten years ago. I didn’t know much about telecommunications back then, but I’ve learned a lot since.’ Pepijn now holds IRATA Level 3 and, in addition to regular climbing activities, also carries out rope access work. These are jobs at locations that technicians cannot reach with ‘normal’ climbing, but which require the use of special rope techniques. These IRATA projects are carried out by Pepijn and two other colleagues. ‘It starts with thorough preparation, where we prepare a plan for accessibility and safety.’ They might sometimes test a particular approach in practice beforehand. ‘For example, my colleagues will soon be dismantling a fairly long antenna weighing about 70 kg at the top of a 150-metre-high mast. They’re testing it out here first, at a height of a few metres, so that we know exactly how to go about it safely when the time comes.’
Safety is a shared responsibility
From harness belts and lanyards to hooks, slings and positioning lines. For most standard jobs, Pepijn and his colleagues carry everything they need in their van. For IRATA projects, they go through the plan together first so that they know exactly what equipment to take along. ‘All our equipment, from tools to personal protective equipment, is inspected at a single central location every year. That way, all the inspection dates are the same and we don’t suffer any disruption.’ Once on site, they discuss the job together and carry out another visual inspection of the equipment. ‘We always do that before going up, and after the job as well. You’re responsible for your equipment at all times. And for your colleagues! We keep a close eye on one another and always point risks to one another. We’re always very aware of the height, but there are other dangers – a sharp edge, for example, or something sticking out. In many cases, the other person has spotted it themselves, but it’s better to warn them once too often than for a colleague to get hurt or seriously injured.’
Safety science; looking to the future
The variety and flexibility are what keep Pepijn’s work enjoyable and challenging, but he is also thinking about the future. ‘What about when I get older or suffer an injury? I’ll want to still be of value.’ That is why he is studying a course in intermediate safety science. ‘I’ve noticed that there’s sometimes quite a gap between the theory in the office and our practical work out in the field. We have to work in accordance with the laws and regulations, of course, but things also have to be practical for us on site. I’d like to be able to contribute to areas like that in the future.’ Pepijn is working on his dissertation, in which he is investigating how to rescue and evacuate a person from a tubular mast. It’s a very specific, but important topic. ‘We know exactly how to rescue one another from height; we’re trained in that every year. But if someone at the top of a tubular mast becomes unwell, there’s no space to climb past them to evacuate them. A colleague and I have tested a number of methods together. That’s how I came up with the front-climbing method. In this method, someone climbs up while being secured by a colleague on the ground. That way, you can lower someone down from below.’
Communication is of utmost importance
Pepijn is keen to do his bit to promote safety at work, which is why he’s a member of the safety advisory group. The group includes representatives from all areas of the business, from management to technicians. He finds it particularly interesting to see the issues that colleagues face and how everyone can learn from one another. They discuss a wide range of topics. ‘From safety on the shop floor to driving behaviour and posture when sitting. If you have to drive for a few hours to a job and you arrive exhausted, that doesn’t help your concentration and therefore safety.’ Another important point for attention is communication, says Pepijn: ‘Let one another know if you’ve had a bad night, are feeling stressed or have physical problems. Then your colleagues can take that into account. In our case, that might mean that you don’t climb for a day but carry out work on the ground instead. Also, don’t be afraid to speak up if something isn’t going as it should. After all, it’s always too late once it’s happened.’