External safety advisor at Mercedes-Benz CPH
The safety bar must be up high
Mercedes-Benz CPH, which sells cars and delivery vans, was in a situation in which they needed advice on how to handle large high-voltage lithium batteries. Frank Heide, the Quality, Safety and Environmental Coordinator at Mercedes-Benz CPH tells that
”In 2030 at the latest, we expect to be solely selling electric cars. However, to achieve our goal we must optimise and consolidate our processes within this area. In connection with this, we spent a lot of resources to discuss internally how to achieve the most optimal safety reflecting our organisation and primary business areas.”
Finding pragmatic but efficient solutions
Mercedes-Benz CPH handles its transport of dangerous goods by means of a ”exempted quantity calculation”. However, as the large high voltage lithium batteries exceed the ”exempted quantity” rule, they needed to supplement their competencies to be able to carry out this task in the best possible way, Frank Heide points out.
The new challenges with handling the large high voltage lithium batteries made the company decide that it would be beneficial to have an external safety advisor covering this area. Mercedes-Benz CPH asked Bureau Veritas for advice as Mercedes-Benz CPH needed a common ground as well as more efficiency and safety across locations.
At the beginning of the cooperation, Bureau Veritas focused on implementing inspection forms as these enable companies to identify relevant areas regarding dangerous goods and waste. This also braces Mercedes-Benz CPH for miscellaneous issues during their day-to-day work:
”We had to find pragmatic but efficient solutions which would work in the day-to-day business at Mercedes-Benz CPH and which were easy to meet without causing a lot of additional work. I experienced a strong will and wish to meet applicable regulations and an absolute receptiveness to changes and solution proposals” tells Mikkel Schneekloth, Operational Manager Dangerous Goods at Bureau Veritas, and Safety Advisor on behalf of Mercedes-Benz CPH.
A close and continuous cooperation
In the light of the company’s benefits, Mercedes-Benz CPH has no doubt that it was the right decision to choose Bureau Veritas as external safety advisor across all locations:
”We experience a larger understanding of the handling of lithium batteries and the process behind. This not only applies to a few of us but to all employees at Mercedes-Benz CPH. Bureau Veritas has been a dialogue tool which has prepared us better for the task through their proactive and solution-oriented approach” underlines Brian Aakær, Parts Manager at Mercedes-Benz CPH and adds:
”We met equally with good explanations and in an easily understandable language which have made things much easier and more acceptable for our employees in their work. This eases your mind.”
It is noticed in all departments at Mercedes-Benz CPH that they have an external safety advisor. In the garage, security and safety is a general feeling among the employees:
”We experience a streamlining of our day-to-day work as everybody has clear guidelines. Communication has been considerably easier which has also made it easier to remain compliant with the task. We have an expert only one call away if we have any questions”, Allan Rosenmai, Head of the Garage at Mercedes-Benz CPH, points out.
Time and energy for the core task
Mercedes-Benz CPH experienced action from the start when all employees were included in the process. The good cooperation has resulted in Mercedes-Benz CPH feeling safe in their handling of dangerous goods and waste. They take their work seriously which has resulted in a good cooperation with a mutual respect and support, Mikkel Schneekloth emphasises.
Mercedes-Benz handles challenges on busy days seriously, and possible questions are addressed directly to Bureau Veritas, who is always ready to clarify current issues, Frank Heide points out:
”All companies have primary business areas – ours is car sale and car service. Therefore, an external safety advisor is an excellent supplement to our own internal competences.”
In the video, you can hear Frank Heide, Quality, Safety and Environment Coordinator, Mercedes Benz CPH and Brian Aakær, Parts Manager, Mercedes-Benz CPH, talk about the benefits of having an external Safety Advisor attached to their daily life.
