In our latest issue of Inside, we are pleased to present an interview with Frank Deckenhoff. Mr. Deckenhoff has been a valuable pillar of our company since 2007 as an occupational safety specialist and fire safety officer.
As an independent expert, he brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise that benefits us all. At the age of 62, Mr. Deckenhoff can look back on a long professional career. Before becoming an independent occupational safety consultant, he worked as a technician in a freight forwarding company for 23 years. His professional roots lie in his training as a car mechanic, where he repaired and maintained machines. Three years ago, he expanded his range of skills by completing special training to become a fire safety officer. We look forward to asking Mr. Deckenhoff a few interesting questions about his work and experience.
You have been responsible for occupational safety in various companies for a long time now. What does safety and occupational health and safety mean to you personally?
For me, occupational health and safety primarily means reducing accidents. It’s about designing workplaces ergonomically and ensuring greater overall safety in the company. Occupational safety is prevention – you have to recognize and eliminate hazards in advance before accidents can even happen.
And what does a typical working day look like for you?
My day usually starts with a health and safety inspection. I walk through the company, take a look at the various departments, working methods, equipment and machines. During this time, I take notes and talk to the employees. They often come to me with questions or problems, which I then check and, if possible, solve directly. This usually involves safety issues or the optimization of work equipment.
You recently introduced special gloves for final inspection. Can you tell us more about this?
Yes, that’s right. We selected special gloves in collaboration with the manufacturer and the final inspection staff. The manufacturer was carefully selected and advised us throughout the process. The gloves are very comfortable to wear and are soft to the touch, which is particularly important for work in the final inspection department. The feedback from employees has been very positive.
LUTZ built a new building in 2020 and you played a key role during the construction phase. Can you tell us about the specific challenges you faced during the planning and construction of the new building and how you overcame these challenges together with the architect and those responsible?
Of course. One of the biggest challenges was to meet the safety requirements without compromising on the functional and aesthetic aspects of the building. Together with the architect and the engineers in charge, we worked hard to find a solution that met the latest safety standards as well as our operational needs. We held regular meetings and safety reviews to ensure that all aspects were considered. It was particularly important to identify potential risks at an early stage and minimize them through targeted measures. The result is a building that is not only safe, but also very functional and
appealing.
Another important part of your work is risk assessment. How do you go about this?
During the risk assessment, we record and describe all potential hazards in the company. I use the so-called traffic light principle to evaluate these better. Green means that there is no risk and the objective has been achieved. Yellow indicates that there is a hazard and measures must be taken to improve the situation. Red indicates a fatal hazard – fortunately, this is very rare. The aim is, of course, to get as many areas as possible to green.
What dangers do you pay particular attention to?
I look out for anything that could endanger the safety of employees. This includes tripping hazards, poorly secured cables, but also the lighting in the work areas. It’s often the little things that can have a big impact. By carrying out regular checks and taking appropriate measures, we can significantly reduce the risk of accidents.
Mr. Deckenhoff, thank you for the interview and your commitment, which makes our company a safe workplace.
Thank you very much! Safety is an ongoing process and I am pleased that I can play my part in it.
