Richard Ohm, EHS manager, Netherlands

Richard Ohm, EHS manager, Netherlands
Years with AD
1
Attribute
High energy
Character
Driven

 

What attracted you to your chosen work?

 

Believe it or not, my career started as a teacher in healthcare and household economics! About 20 years ago, I took the opportunity to switch careers into facility management and then EHS. It turned out that EHS was a natural fit for me. 

 

The EHS role allowed me to combine my educational background in facility management, healthcare, and household economics. Also, my passion for technology and engineering was a good combination. Every day is different, with all sorts of EHS challenges to tackle: governmental inspections, permit questions, incident investigations, and answering questions from people on the shop floor, engineering, and operations. I love finding solutions, and my motto is "Impossible only means that you haven't found the solution yet." 

 

These complex and diverse challenges suit my neurodiverse brain. Because of how my brain works, I often see, hear and feel things differently than most people, which has been a great asset in my safety professional role. Additionally, the diversity of tasks and the ability to set my agenda and priorities fit my neurodiversity.


What skills did you develop early that are still useful today?


My teaching background has been invaluable. I can explain complex and straightforward subjects to people at different organizational levels. It also laid the foundation for my skills in observing situations, auditing, and creating good questions and training materials. 

 

Technical and engineering fundamentals are another important skill. Understanding and speaking the engineering language, including reading technical drawings, is vital in my EHS role. 

 

Lastly, creating good and powerful presentations is key. It can really make or break stakeholder buy-in.

 

How have you grown in your career at Avery Dennison?


I'm still growing every day! It's been just over a year since I started at Avery Dennison. To be successful, it's crucial to accept advice for personal and professional improvement and to identify learning opportunities with the help of those around you. This has been challenging for me personally. With my form of autism, it can be hard to understand how I come across when communicating with others, and sometimes I don't realize what I could have done better when communicating. 

 

With the support of my colleagues and external coaching, I can do my job effectively. The safe environment, where you can truly be yourself, is special and something I hadn't experienced in other companies. I'm very grateful for that. This special culture is something we shouldn't take for granted.

 

Richard Ohm, EHS manager, Netherlands
Richard Ohm, EHS manager, Netherlands

 

What's the biggest stretch opportunity you've taken on?

 

Definitely the PSM (Process Safety Management) program. When I started, it was totally new to me. I lacked the necessary knowledge, chemical background, and familiarity with global guidance. The Alphen engineering team and the global PSM community have been incredibly supportive. Traveling to other sites, asking questions, and making mistakes have been part of my learning journey. This year's Peer assessment at Soignies with the European EHS team and engineers was a fantastic and essential learning experience.

 

What role has mentorship played in your career?

 

For the past 15+ years, I've often been in solo EHS management roles, meaning I was a team of one. In those roles, I interacted with various groups, countries, and people inside and outside the organization, including governments. Several good mentors who supported, guided, and helped me when I made business mistakes shaped me into the professional I am today. Several of my mentors gave me tips for career opportunities and personal development, and even opened doors for me in and outside the organization. 

 

When I started 15 years ago, I was an EHS Professional level II. I've grown into roles with higher levels of responsibility, and I wouldn't have been able to do it without the great mentors I've had. I have mentors throughout the organization, from the manufacturing floor to higher management. The willingness of people at Avery Dennison to help their colleagues is exceptional and a precious part of the culture. It is something we should not take for granted.

 

 

The safe environment, where you can truly be yourself, is special and something I hadn't experienced in other companies. I'm very grateful for that.

 

What's the best career decision you've ever made?

 

To look for opportunities within the organization. In my previous company, I moved from EHS manager to Lead Sustainability EMEA in my last company. I didn't have any formal sustainability qualifications, but I was confident that I could do it. Luckily, a great manager let me take the leap and see what would happen. It turned out to be a very successful move!

 

As you think about the next steps in your career, what are the most important actions you plan to take?

 

I want to focus on listening better, accepting feedback, and creating my career opportunities at Avery Dennison. But most of all, knowing that everyone is treated the same here, regardless of their background, disabilities, or gender, I'm going to use my neurodiversity as a strength.

 

What do you enjoy most about the work you do?

 

I love working with people around the globe, being part of the EHS team, and traveling to other locations. But most of all, I enjoy finding answers and solutions for those on the front lines and behind the scenes. My goal is to keep them healthy, safe, and in a sustainable environment.

 

Richard Ohm, EHS manager, Netherlands

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