To mark Safety Day, we interviewed Yontec’s prevention advisor, Annelies Tournel. At Yontec, employee safety is a top priority, making Safety Day the perfect opportunity to get to know Annelies and her role.
Annelies: “I worked for six years in the IT sector in Brussels and was about to expand my family. This made me want to take my career in a different direction. That’s why I started looking for a job in Limburg and quickly found my way to Yontec. The first conversation with Peter and Davy made it very clear to me that this was a company I wanted to commit to. I also immediately felt the family-like atmosphere, which gave me a warm feeling. I started as an Office Manager with a diverse range of responsibilities. As Yontec grew, my tasks expanded and evolved over the years. Davy increasingly involved me in the annual VCA audits, where my interest in taking responsibility for safety at Yontec began to grow.”
Annelies: “It’s a very varied role, ranging from administrative tasks to close communication with customers. First and foremost, I ensure that new technicians at Yontec receive as much information as possible about their workplace and its safety. That’s why I always take sufficient time during onboarding to sit down together. Colleagues who change workplaces receive targeted safety information from me. Since I can’t monitor safety from behind my computer, I visit our technicians on-site every week.”
“In addition, I maintain close contact with customers to exchange information related to safety. I also provide internal advice to management on workwear, equipment, and PPE. Every month, I participate in the CPBW (Committee for Prevention and Protection at Work), where we discuss various topics related to well-being and safety. I also follow up on safety training to ensure that everyone obtains the required certificates on time. Since September 2021, we have established the Y-LAB, where we provide not only safety training but also optional technical training and training programs for our new starters.”
Annelies: “Anyone who needs a listening ear can always come to me. My door is always open for questions, difficult situations, or simply for more information about certain matters. If there are problems at work, I speak with employees in complete confidence, and together we look for a solution. If necessary, I can refer them for further support. I also actively support the anti-bullying campaign. Bullying in the workplace is unacceptable! Unfortunately, we still see it happen too often, and at Yontec we strive to ensure that bullying has no place in our family.”
Annelies: “I only have one explanation for that, and it comes from Davy himself. He says: ‘because we are the Yontec family and we don’t want any member of our family to be seriously injured.’”
Annelies: “I mainly maintain that overview through workplace visits. These are very important and also ensure that I can carry out my job down to the smallest detail. From behind a computer, I can’t see what the technicians are working on. During these visits, I engage in dialogue with both the technician and the clients to see where adjustments may be needed.”
Annelies: “We explain to new technicians how Yontec approaches safety and how we handle it. First, we cover the basics of safety, which most people already know, but it’s important to refresh this every time. This mainly includes workplace safety, risks, and training, and I also emphasize that if there are any problems, I am the confidential contact person.”
Annelies: “There are several ways to raise employees’ awareness of safety. A monthly newsletter is published, which always includes a safety topic. Workplace visits also help raise employees’ awareness of safety, as I discuss it together with them. In addition, we share information about incidents that have occurred and mark Safety Day in a creative way.”
Annelies: “What I enjoy about my job is how varied it is. When I arrive in the morning, I never know what the day will bring. I work with many different people and visit various locations, from pharmaceutical companies to prisons. Every day is different, and every day brings new challenges.”
