Whether at the natural gas storage facility or the drilling rig, Lukas Plaspohl (32) has a lot of responsibility as respiratory protection coordinator at the Cloppenburg site. He ensures that all work can be carried out safely, equipment functions reliably, and environmental standards are met.

Lukas, you are a respiratory protection coordinator at Bilfinger. What does your everyday work look like?

I spend a lot of time outdoors – that's exactly what I like so much about my job. I'm currently working at a natural gas storage facility where annual maintenance is in progress. There, containers are inspected, safety valves are removed, and tanks are cleaned – that's one side of my work.

When I'm not at natural gas storage facilities, I work on drilling rigs. There, we ensure that everything runs safely during maintenance and service work. We conduct safety briefings, train the teams in respiratory protection, measure the atmosphere at the borehole, and supervise all work that requires respiratory protection.

A total of around 30 colleagues work in the gas and respiratory protection department. No two days are the same – that's what makes the job exciting. I have been with Bilfinger since completing my training as a precision mechanic in 2010 and have continued to develop my skills ever since. I have been working as a respiratory protection coordinator in gas protection since 2018

Responsibility plays a major role in your work. How do you live this value in your everyday life?

Responsibility is the be-all and end-all for us. When I equip someone with respiratory protection, I have to be 100% sure that everything is working. There is no room for error – in the worst case, it could cost lives. Even if that sounds dramatic, it's the reality of my job.

I am responsible for my colleagues, for our customers – and also for myself. Before any work begins, we create a job safety analysis (JSA). This describes each individual work step in detail, assesses hazards, and defines measures. This is discussed by the entire team and signed by everyone. This way, everyone knows what is important and that we protect each other.

We do not compromise on safety – and I live by that every day.

What does responsibility mean to you personally – beyond safety?

For me, responsibility means always doing the right thing – even if it takes longer or is more inconvenient. This applies not only to how we treat each other, but also to our environment. For example, when we open containers, we line everything with plastic sheeting beforehand so that no liquids can seep into the ground. Everything that is collected is then disposed of properly – for me, that's just part of the job.

I've been here since my training and I think Bilfinger really lives up to its responsibility. That starts with safety, but it's also about working together. We look out for each other and support each other as a team – and that's exactly what makes me feel completely at home here.