„Occupational health and safety is a rapidly evolving field today!“
Published: October 2023
Dagmar Teder works as the company’s Occupational Health and Safety Specialist and, as of 2023, has been with the company for ten years.
“I joined the company straight after graduating from university, so this has essentially been my first job. Of course, I was already familiar with the company’s brands because they had always been a part of my family’s dining table.”
Speaking of meat products, Dagmar’s all-time favourite is Rakvere’s blueberry-marinated pork ribs for grilling. She also enjoys minced meat because it is so versatile and makes it easy to prepare a wide variety of meals.
People are inspiring
Dagmar decided to join the team because the role seemed both exciting and challenging.
“My decision was definitely influenced by the fact that my field of study is highly specialised, and this position was exactly the kind of role I had hoped to find after graduating. However, settling into the job was far from easy. I came straight from university, having just completed my master’s degree, and I had no previous professional experience in the field. I had the theoretical knowledge, but applying it in such a large organisation proved to be a real challenge due to my lack of practical experience,” she recalls.
Looking back on those early days, Dagmar says that even now it is difficult to describe a typical working day. Although her primary responsibility is the Rakvere meat processing plant, she also participates in projects across the Baltic countries and is responsible for their implementation.
“No two days are the same. My role also requires me to spend a great deal of time in our production facilities—it certainly isn’t a desk job. My main responsibility is to organise the company’s occupational health and safety activities in accordance with legal requirements. This includes advising the employer on creating a safe and healthy working environment, supporting employees in preventing health risks, and raising awareness of healthy lifestyles.
On a daily basis, I investigate workplace accidents and near misses, coordinate employees’ occupational health examinations, conduct internal inspections, prepare safety instructions, and provide training and guidance to employees. In short, my role is to strengthen and continuously develop the company’s safety culture.
I always strive to be encouraging and engaging. When preparing occupational health and safety documentation, I’m not afraid to work alongside colleagues in production to gain a deeper understanding of the manufacturing process. What I find especially inspiring is the diversity of the people I work with—we all bring our own expertise to the organisation.”
Zero Tolerance for Workplace Accidents
An Occupational Health and Safety Specialist carries a great deal of responsibility, as occupational health and safety concerns every single employee within the company.
“The ultimate goal is for everyone to come to work with enthusiasm, feel energised throughout the day, and return home safe and healthy after work. I want all of us to understand that our health is one of our greatest assets and that we each have a responsibility to invest in it. Safety procedures shouldn’t be followed simply because they are mandatory, but because you understand why they matter and choose to follow them for your own wellbeing.
To strengthen our safety culture, we are currently implementing two major initiatives: Safety First and Better Together. Safety First focuses primarily on workplace safety, including topics such as the proper use of personal protective equipment and the safe operation of machinery. Better Together, on the other hand, focuses on occupational health and employee wellbeing. As part of this initiative, we place greater emphasis on mental wellbeing, physical activity, and healthy nutrition to help our employees lead healthier lives.”
Dagmar doesn’t count her working hours. “In my role, you have to be available whenever you’re needed, so it’s difficult to fit the job into a strict schedule. What really matters is maintaining a healthy work–life balance.
The most challenging part of my job is dealing with workplace accidents and employee health issues in general. No injury or illness should ever be considered acceptable,” she says firmly. “What I love most is that no two days are ever the same. There’s no room for routine in this role, and I genuinely enjoy being able to make a positive difference in people’s lives. At the same time, anyone working in occupational health and safety needs to cope well under pressure and remain calm in difficult situations.” Dagmar also emphasises the importance of continuous learning and professional development. “The field of occupational health and safety is evolving rapidly. If you don’t keep up with those changes, you’ll quickly fall behind. That’s why it’s so important to me that our company offers opportunities to learn, develop, and continue building our expertise.” When asked about the team’s greatest strength, she points to collaboration.”When solving problems, people naturally have different ideas, but we’re always able to find a compromise that works for everyone. We’re all very different personalities, and that’s exactly what makes our team stronger. We complement and inspire one another—and when necessary, we also help keep each other grounded,” she says with a smile.
“My family and close friends will always come first, so I’ve never found it difficult to balance my work and personal life—my priorities have always been clear. When work needs to be done, I focus on work. When it’s time to be with my family or friends, I make time for them.” In her free time, Dagmar enjoys playing volleyball and going for walks in nature.