Serge – Substitute Team Leader

A job in chemistry & the port of Antwerp

 

After my studies for an A2 diploma (a vocational diploma in Belgium) in Chemistry and my first job in the laboratory of a petrochemical company, I joined Bayer Antwerp in 1987. Even though I had the option of starting at one of three companies, I chose Bayer because of the interesting job content and the stability of the Company.

 

Bayer has a culture of giving opportunities and second chances: you should be able to learn from a mistake. If you are someone who does his work properly and even with extra effort, then this is appreciated, noticed and you are offered interesting tasks. As a blue-collar worker, you also have the opportunity to develop your career further. There are clearly defined career paths, which even give you, as a blue-collar worker, the chance to evolve towards the status of a white-collar worker. If you need training, you can approach the internal training service. Some training courses even result in a certificate. In addition, you get the chance to specialise in a particular aspect of the process; so there are employees who are the first to be called in to solve line problems with regard to measurement and regulation techniques. The technical service is only called in when the problem is beyond the knowledge and experience of these employees. Moreover, we have colleagues who are the direct contacts for the laboratory. Therefore, depending on your interests, you can gain additional expertise. Every day you also learn a great deal from one another’s experiences, and you get a regular update on the changes in the company regulations.

 

So you could hardly call the job of Process Operator boring. Each day, a varied range of duties awaits you. This is even more so with the extra responsibilities I have as Substitute Team Leader.

 

Naturally, there can be some stress now and then. Certainly when a crash occurs and we – dressed in clothing that protects us against the acids & hazardous substances – must enter the production installation; we look like real Martians then. But the pay and the atmosphere within the team more than make up for these discomforts. There is a positive vibe among our team; we are well tuned to one another and share information properly. Once or twice a year, we go out to dinner together.

 

From Process Operator to Substitute Team Leader

 

At Bayer, I no longer worked in a laboratory, but started off in a production environment. I was initially hired to help build and test the production lines of a new chemical production installation. For this, I was trained in Antwerp and in Germany. After various similar projects, I finally started working in my current job as Process Operator / Substitute Team Leader in the production installation for BPA.

 

As Process Operator, you are part of a team. During the day, you work inside and outside of the control room. In the control room, we constantly keep an eye on the various control alarms and report all process changes with regard to aspects such as temperature, pressure, flow and quality parameters. The control activity is an online activity, an automated environment. As much as possible, we try to intervene from the control room where there are process changes. If this is not possible, then the problem must be dealt with onsite. That can include checking the cleanliness of the filters and changing them, verifying the flow via sight-glasses, checking the pumps and taking samples.  

 

Process Operators work in three teams, currently spread over five-week cycles. That is why the handover between the different teams is very important.

 

To work as a fully fledged Process Operator, you will need up to three to five years of experience. Since I became Substitute Team Leader, I am responsible, in the absence of the Team Leader, for the transfer of important information between the management and the team and for the organisation of work, and I must also ensure that cooperation between colleagues is as smooth as possible. Sometimes, I may also be involved in training my colleagues.

 

The advantages of working in shifts

 

Working in shifts makes it possible for my partner and myself to take up the childcare responsibilities for the children. As a result, we pay less for childcare, and can easily combine holidays and illnesses of the children with a full-time job. If I need to go to the bank or take the car for the motor vehicle test, this can be done during the day. Shopping and doing the groceries is also usually done during the day in the week.

 

Collective sports are difficult to combine; but if you are a fan of an individual sport, then this can easily be combined with working in shifts. Moreover, you are never stuck in a traffic jam!

 

To conclude, the bonuses you receive for shift work is a welcome addition to the remuneration package. 

 

HSEQ?

 

Besides logical thinking and knowledge about pumps, measuring and regulation techniques, decontamination and separation techniques, chemistry, even electro-mechanics, it is important that you always pay attention to safety, environment, health and quality (HSEQ). Each month, we get an update on the accident rates, any accidents which have occurred are clarified, procedures are brushed up once again, and we are given all kinds of tips.

 

Safety is an essential part of our job. For example, each time non-routine work must be done on an installation, where there is risk of contamination, we must be on safety duty. If we come in contact with any of the chemical substances or if there is even the slightest probability that we have come in contact with these, we must undergo decontamination.