What is your contribution?
HSElife magazine #23
Yes, you too! Only together can we make a difference. That requires action and commitment. Together you simply create more impact than on your own. In conversation with Ronald Pijtak (TAQA HSSE Manager and currently Chairman of the NOGEPA Health & Safety Committee) about his chairmanship, responsibilities and ambitions.
He is HSSE Manager at TAQA, a member of the steering committee of HSElife and is chairman of the Health & Safety Committee of NOGEPA. Ronald, how do you do all that? "They are indeed all different roles with different responsibilities, but I believe they are all important in this day and age, we need to work smarter, collaborate and harmonise as an industry in order to be more efficient as individual companies. HSELife is one of those platforms that supports this. That is why I make time to contribute to that. It’s just a matter of commitment and doing."
What exactly does the chairmanship involve? Ronald: "As a chairman I support the industry in the field of health and safety. From that point of view, for example, I have contact with all kinds of stakeholders, e.g. State Supervision and ministries. Building bridges between Operators and stakeholders is an important task for a chairman, in which I represent the interests of all parties."
Good news Decision-making within HSELife was slow and bureaucratic, but that has changed in the meantime: "I'm probably not the only one who was irritated by this. Within the Executive Committee, it has been decided that on HSELife issues we can get a go with a 'marjority vote' to get things done. Previously it had to be a unanimous decision. Now we can take steps faster and take action. Ronald is also committed to the link between NOGEPA and HSElife: "Realizing this link was one of the main reasons for me to take on the chairmanship. It is essential that HSElife is widely supported and that an effective implementation is achieved. Now that HSElife is a NOGEPA inititaive, it must be easier to realise. This is really great news!"
Working together are the magic words Ronald states and emphasizes the importance of working together: "Everyone's contribution is important. Within HSElife and within the industry. Working together on a large scale is an ambition on its own. We just need each other. The beauty is that we are not competitors within the committee. Together we discuss and solve problems and challenges that the industry has to deal with. That we are willing to learn from each other and to strive for improvement is already a good result in itself. We are all busy, but working together remain the magic words to move forward."
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