Academic background
There can be no doubt that Ewelina’s extensive academic background will prove to be a huge asset to her work at Riskonet. She graduated from Warsaw’s Military University of Technology, specialising in hazardous materials and chemical accidents. Riskonet’s newest partner also picked up extensive knowledge about explosive materials. “My interest, of course, wasn’t in initiating explosions, but protecting the people that work with them,” she says.
Driven by a need to learn more about operations and fire safety, and a desire to focus more on flammable materials, she decided to study Fire-Safety Engineering at the Main School of Fire Services. Afterwards, she completed a postgraduate programme in Power Engineering.
Specialisations
Despite quickly realising that explosives weren’t mainly where her interests lay, Ewelina acquired invaluable knowledge about them during her studies, knowledge that she now applies in her work. She can fall back on a lot of experience in dealing with chemical hazards in warehouses, for example. Her extensive knowledge in this area extends beyond flammable substances to include various hazardous substances, such as organic peroxides, toxic and oxidising agents.
What I like about working for Riskonet is that rather than of focusing on limitations, we offer them support and protection
Previous work experiences
In addition to her knowledge of chemical hazards, Ewelina also brings to the table the benefit of her extensive experience. Initially, she worked as a process-safety engineer with an engineering consultancy, acquainting herself with fire safety. While there, she designed safety systems and other provisions for buildings in which process- and explosion-hazards played a role.
The next step in her professional career was related to risk assessment in the insurance industry. “It was a milestone experience that allowed me to learn about the world of risk assessment and analysis of property damage caused by fire or explosion.”
A major achievement for Ewelina was starting work as a logistics process safety manager, where she was able to apply her knowledge and skills in a logistics company. Her responsibilities included supervising the storage of hazardous materials and ensuring compliance with the applicable directives and standards.
Working at Riskonet
“The industrial and warehouse property sector is well developed in Poland,” insists Ewelina. “And given the sheer pace of construction, we regularly encounter safety risks during inspections of storage facilities with sprinkler systems, and that includes risks for my colleagues and myself. We’re always on the lookout for the best ways to mitigate these risks and improve fire safety.”
“What I like about working for Riskonet is that rather than constraining companies with rules, we offer them support and protection,” she assures. “The Riskonet approach is a collaborative one that leads to strong client relationships.”
Ambitious
In addition to improving fire safety, Ewelina’s objectives include helping her clients find suitable solutions to their problems and preventing major fire accidents. “I’m a sensitive soul and I love helping people,” she offers.
She concedes that she will never stop learning, and is still learning a lot about risks at Riskonet. “My goal is to embrace the Riskonet approach and help my clients effectively, supporting their efforts and promoting awareness of the risks involved” continues Riskonet’s newest partner. “Riskonet is a team of experts and I am grateful that I can be a part of it.”
Working as a safety engineer
Warehouse inspections and customer visits will all be part of Ewelina’s varied responsibilities. But she’ll need to be a little patient, given that she only started with Riskonet at the beginning of October and hasn’t been able to make many such visits yet. Other responsibilities include the documentation of guidelines, such as those for the proper storage of goods, for example.
Up in the air
When she’s not working, you’ll be unlikely to find the new Riskonet partner sitting still for long. “I love spending time outdoors,” she says, “and I’m passionate about mountain hiking and paragliding. In fact, I spend most of my free time in the air, either alone or with friends.”
The connection between her hobby and her work is certainly not lost on Ewelina. “When it comes to paragliding, you are continuously having to assess risks, such as the weather conditions and terrain characteristics, your own abilities, and the circumstances. And in the air, just like in my work, it’s all about making the right decisions to maximise safety.”
