For this week’s article we spoke to Karolina Pamula, who joined Occupli this Summer as part of a Student Safety Engineer Internship. Karolina was a fantastic addition to the company over the last few months, so we were keen to get her thoughts on the experience.
“I worked for Occupli during the Summer of 2024 after finishing my second year in Chemical and Biopharmaceutical Engineering at Munster Technical University. This was my second summer work experience at Occupli working in the Consultancy Department. Those three months provided me with invaluable insights into the practical aspects of process, health and safety management, particularly through site visits and the review of reports. Here, I would like to share some of the key highlights from my time at the company.
As part of my work experience, I visited a number of WWTP pumping stations. Those visits helped me understand the workings of the water treatment process and the hazards associated with it. Previously it never occurred to me that there may be so many risks associated with something as mundane as a pumping station. I performed Flammable Liquids in Drainage systems (FLIDS) Assessments based on those site visits and helped with the preparation of the Explosion Protection Document for each site. FLIDS Assessments are comprehensive evaluations designed to identify and mitigate risks related to the explosion hazard, fire, lightning, intrusion, and other security concerns.
Another interesting site visit involved a medical device manufacturing company where operators were experiencing static shocks. I helped with the preparation of a static shock survey which involved, going to the site and taking various measurements relating to the build-up of static. My previous experience with static shocks involved receiving light shocks e.g. after blowing up balloons of from the trampoline as a child hence I never thought they could pose a serious risk within workplaces. This Summer I learnt that static electricity can pose significant risks in certain environments, and conducting a static assessment was crucial in identifying the root causes and implementing effective solutions. During this visit, I learned about the various factors contributing to static build-up, such as material handling, environmental conditions like humidity levels, and equipment usage. The assessment process involved measuring static charge levels, measuring the resistivity between equipment. This hands-on experience highlighted the importance of addressing even seemingly minor issues to prevent potential hazards.
My work experience at Occupli was an eye-opening journey into the world of health and safety management. The site visits to pumping stations, static shock assessments, and the review of Explosion Protection Documents provided me with practical knowledge and skills that are invaluable for my future career.
I am immensely grateful for this opportunity and the guidance provided by the experienced professionals at the consultancy. This experience has reinforced my commitment to pursuing a career in health and safety, and I look forward to applying the lessons learned in my future endeavors.”
Karolina Pamula
Occupli have over a number of years a long-term relationship with the Engineering Departments at MTU. We have had a number of MTU Students (Chemical and Biopharmaceutical Engineering) on 3rd year placements for 6 months. We have recruited a number of Chemical / Biopharmaceutical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering Graduates to work in our Consultancy Department.
To find out more about Occupli consultancy services, click here.
To get in touch with Occupli’s consultancy team, email info@occupli.com or call 0818 315 415.