Employee Profile

“I have the opportunity to contribute to staff safety so that they can go home in the same state they arrived here at the plant.”

I have a free hand in my area of responsibility (occupational safety and product safety) and can contribute and implement my own ideas here. Cargill supports professional development in each area. I have always had the chance to attend necessary courses and advanced training and there are many professional development programmes for staff to choose from.

Describe your work responsibilities and the importance of your role.

My job is to analyse risky behaviours and to make changes and improvements so that employees can work safely and without accidents at our site. In this respect, I play an important part in the health and safety of our staff.

Describe your day-to-day activities and the skills needed to perform well.

A first requirement was an internal safety cause where I was informed of the Behaviour Based Safety Process and trained as an attendant myself. In addition, I was a safety officer before I worked for Cargill. My day-to-day work consists of analysing risky behaviours which are communicated to the respective managers and departments in order to extrapolate technical or organisational changes and improvements. I am also responsible for training staff. I gather information on unsafe behaviours and communicate these to staff (e.g. at weekly safety meetings).

Describe your career path. Where did you start and how did you get to where you are today?

Before I worked for Cargill, I spent eight years working in mining. In 1991, I then started as a sorbitol system operator for Cargill. In 2000, our ketogulonic acid plant was then commissioned which I attended and on which I ended up working as deputy shift coordinator until 2012. Since 2012, I have been in my current post.

What do you find most rewarding about your work?

In my current post, I have contact with all staff - from plant operators up to the CEO. I have the opportunity to contribute to staff safety so that they can go home in the same state they arrived here at the plant.

Why did you choose to join Cargill and what keeps you here? In other words, how has a career at Cargill helped you to thrive?

I joined Cargill because I saw plenty of opportunities here for my professional development. It is a totally different industry to mining and also experiencing and organising the construction of a new production plant was one of my most interesting challenges. In my current post, I have received further opportunity to develop in a completely new area - from technology to the more strategic task with more staff contact.

What advice would you give someone interested in a career at Cargill like yours?

Be open to change and willing to develop yourself further. You should also not be afraid of voicing feedback as it is the only way to contribute to ongoing improvement.

Share an interesting tidbit about yourself such as hobbies, volunteerism, favorite foods or activities, accomplishments inside or outside of work.

In my free time I do a lot of extreme sport e.g. most recently the 100km Oxfam Run, a Strongmen Run at the Nürburgring or the Tough Mudder Run. Otherwise, I enjoy boxing or taking part in a bootcamp.