Every day, he walks through the production halls in Lopik and Groot-Ammers, working together with colleagues to see what is going well and where work can be made even safer. Dexter van den Dungen has been an HSE advisor at Gpi for two years and is the main point of contact for safe working practices within Gpi Tanks in Lopik and Groot-Ammers. ‘My goal is to make sure that everyone goes home safely at the end of the working day.’
Dexter initially aspired to work for the police. Ultimately, he chose to study Integrated Safety Management. During this programme, he learned about safe working practices from various perspectives, ranging from technology and legislation to human behaviour and practical applications on the work floor. Dexter believes he made the right choice: ‘I’m very happy that I chose this profession.’
Starting at Gpi
‘Before I joined Gpi, I worked for an engineering consultancy, where the focus was mainly on safety in an office environment. A former colleague then asked me whether the position at Gpi might be something for me. I was immediately enthusiastic about the opportunity. At Gpi, safety goes much further. This is where practical and technical safety come together. You encounter all kinds of safety challenges here, from machinery and hazardous substances to welding fumes, working at height and working in confined spaces. That really appealed to me,’ Dexter explains.
‘If you come up with an idea, you can test or implement it straight away. If it doesn’t work, you can immediately discuss it with each other.’
What does an HSE advisor do?
As an HSE advisor, Dexter ensures that people within Gpi work in accordance with applicable legislation, regulations and standards. He does this by identifying and assessing risks through the Risk Inventory and Evaluation (RI&E). Dexter explains: ‘The RI&E is the foundation for everything related to safety. My role is to translate this into practical guidelines for our employees. I believe it is important that procedures are not only safe, but also practical and workable. That is why I discuss their feasibility with the supervisors on the work floor. If you come up with an idea, you can test or implement it straight away. That’s what I enjoy about the job. Sometimes you discover that something doesn’t work as intended, and then you can immediately discuss it with the people involved. Ultimately, it’s all about making sure that everyone can do their job safely.’
The HSE department is also responsible for the hazardous substances register and the ISO management system, which sets out agreements and requirements for safe and environmentally responsible working practices. ‘For example, ISO 14001, the international standard for environmental management, was updated in 2026. I then look at what this means for Gpi and what we need to do to continue meeting the new requirements,’ he explains.
What does a working day look like?
Dexter starts his working day at 7 a.m. with the daily start-up meeting in Lopik or Groot-Ammers. He divides his working days between the two locations. ‘During the daily start-up, I sometimes give a short update on a current safety topic. After that, I go to my computer and work on things such as a task risk assessment, procedure, work instruction or the RI&E. I also regularly consult with my HSE colleagues at other Gpi locations, and I walk through the factory several times a day.’ By making several rounds through the production area each day, Dexter stays closely connected to the day-to-day reality of the workplace and knows what is happening on the work floor. ‘You see what is going well, where people are running into challenges and where we can work together to make improvements.’
‘I walk through the factory several times a day. You see what is going well, where people are running into challenges and where you can work together to make improvements.’
Challenges
According to Dexter, one of the biggest challenges of his job is keeping safety top of mind at all times. Legislation and regulations change, Gpi is growing and new colleagues are joining the company. This means that instructions and agreements need to be brought to people’s attention time and time again. ‘It already starts during onboarding. And you keep repeating the message, especially to colleagues who have been with the company for a longer time, because they can sometimes become accustomed to doing things in a certain way,’ Dexter explains.
Dexter does not see his role as someone who simply tells people what they can and cannot do: ‘If I see someone doing something that isn’t safe, I want them to realise for themselves that there is a better way. It has to come from the people themselves, so that working safely becomes second nature.’ According to Dexter, this also means acknowledging when things are being done well. ‘Giving someone a compliment when they are working safely is just as important.’ At first, Dexter found it quite exciting to walk through the production areas and approach colleagues about safety. ‘By now, I feel completely comfortable doing so, and I’m happy that I can help everyone work in the right and safest way.’
‘If you are open to it, you can continue to develop yourself at Gpi’
Working at Gpi
Dexter is enthusiastic about Gpi as an employer: ‘I have a lot of freedom in my work, the employment conditions are good, communication lines are short and there is room for your own ideas and initiative. If you are open to it, you can continue to develop yourself at Gpi. For example, Gpi gave me the opportunity to complete the Intermediate Safety Professional training course last year.’
Looking ahead
Dexter certainly sees himself continuing to work at Gpi and developing further over the coming years. He explains: ‘I still have plenty of interesting challenges that I can take on independently. There is still a lot for me to learn here. I want to gain much more knowledge about the technical world so that I can provide even better advice and feel even more confident in my role. In the future, I could see myself progressing into an HSE Manager role, with responsibility for my own team. For now, I’m really enjoying my current role and I’m happy to go to work every day.’
