Safe Together

You switch on a device and expect it to work. But what happens when invisible signals change the way it behaves?

In this episode, host Ellen talks with Lars de Groot, Certification Engineer at Kiwa's electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) lab in Apeldoorn, the Netherlands. Lars takes you into the world of EMC, where the team tests how much interference electronic devices produce and how they respond to signals from the world around them.

Every new product brings a different test setup and sometimes new safety questions. Lars explains how the team prepares unfamiliar equipment, adapts when a setup needs to change and manages electrical risks and heavy products. He also explains why knowing when to pause, reassess and use the Power to Stop matters as much as understanding the technology.

You’ll hear:

• What EMC is and why electronic devices need to work alongside each other without interference.
• How Kiwa tests the signals a device produces and how it responds to interference.
• Why unfamiliar products and changing test setups require careful preparation.
• How the Power to Stop helps teams pause a test when something feels unsafe.

Safe Together is a podcast by Kiwa | In collaboration with De Praeters.

What does it take to know if a road or bridge is safe before anyone drives across it?

In this episode, host Ellen talks with Derek Anderson, Project Manager at Raba Kistner, a Kiwa company in the United States. Derek and his team work on infrastructure projects across Utah, taking samples on site and testing soil, concrete and other materials to understand whether they are ready for the job.

But for Derek, safety goes far beyond test results. His father had a work accident when Derek was very young. He shares how that affected his whole family and how the experience still shapes the way he leads his team today.

From traffic and changing conditions on construction sites to speaking up when something feels unsafe, this is a conversation about why getting home safely is never just about one person.

You’ll hear:

• How Derek’s team tests the ground and materials used in roads and bridges.
• Why traffic, changing site conditions and laboratory work all require constant awareness.
• How a serious workplace accident can continue to shape a family many years later.
• Why the Power to Stop only works when people feel supported when they speak up.

Safe Together is a podcast by Kiwa | In collaboration with De Praeters.

In Kiwa’s Berlin laboratory, safety is the result of many small, deliberate decisions made every day. In this episode, Ufuk Bayram, Nele Schosser, and Jan Zander share their experiences working with polymers, chemicals, metal and a range of specialized equipment.

They discuss the importance of following safety data sheets, selecting the right gloves for each chemical, and ensuring every sample is labelled correctly. The conversation highlights how knowledge, teamwork, and the willingness to speak up after incidents all contribute to a safer working environment.

You’ll hear:

• How polymer coatings are tested for real-life conditions like heat, moisture, pressure and chemicals.
• Why safety data sheets, labels and handovers matter before testing begins.
• What small incidents in the lab can teach teams about improving safety.

Listen to the episode and look for one small improvement you can make today to keep your workplace safe.

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Safe Together is a podcast by Kiwa | In collaboration with De Praeters.

In this episode, we explore how drones are reshaping the way Kiwa conducts inspections. Bart Daniëls, co-founder of Skyebase and a member of the Kiwa Drone Competence Center, joins host Ellen to discuss the advantages of drone technology in keeping people out of tanks, confined spaces, and other high-risk environments.

Bart explains that while drones offer new possibilities for safer and more efficient inspections, technology does not replace responsibility. He highlights the ongoing importance of thorough preparation, obtaining the right permits, comprehensive training, and having clear emergency plans in place. Human decision-making remains at the heart of safe drone operations, ensuring that every inspection meets Kiwa’s high standards for safety and quality.

You’ll hear:

• How drones are used for visual inspections, wall thickness measurements, emission measurements and 3D scans.
• Why drones can reduce exposure to confined spaces and working at height.
• What can still go wrong during drone operations, from hardware failure to birds and lost connection.
• Why pilots, inspectors and clients still need clear procedures and the Power to Stop.

Extra context for a term mentioned in the episode:

• A drone payload is any equipment or extra weight a drone carries, such as a camera, sensor, or package, to perform a specific task.

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Safe Together is a podcast by Kiwa | In collaboration with De Praeters.

What is it like to work more than 100 meters above the ground? In this episode, we join Nelson Lima, a wind turbine inspector from Portugal, as he shares his perspective on the unique world of turbine inspections. Together with host Ellen, Nelson discusses the realities of climbing tall structures, the importance of lifelines and rescue kits, and the challenges posed by extreme weather.

Nelson also highlights the physical and mental preparation required for working at height. At Kiwa, we know that safety is not just about strength—it is about awareness, thorough training, and the confidence to use the Power to Stop when needed. This episode offers a clear look at the expertise and responsibility that define this essential work.

You’ll hear:

• What it feels like to climb and work inside a wind turbine.
• Why lifelines, ladders, hoists and rescue kits are part of daily safety.
• How weather, height, fatigue and access routes influence the decision to work or stop.
• Why being fit for work is both physical and mental.

Extra context for a term mentioned in the episode:

• The nacelle of a wind turbine is the housing at the top that contains the key components, such as the generator and gearbox, which convert wind into electricity.

Listen to the episode and ask yourself: am I physically and mentally ready for the work I am doing today?

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Safe Together is a podcast by Kiwa | In collaboration with De Praeters.

In this episode, host Ellen visits Kiwa Technology in the Netherlands for a tour that proves one thing fast: safety starts before the test even begins.

He’s joined by Nadia Luijsterburg-Vleugels, a PhD chemical engineer and elastomer engineer, who walks us through real lab setups and the safety decisions behind them. From redesigning a test setup so risks become visible, to dealing with unexpected chemical reactions, to managing an odorant test that triggered concerns outside the building, this is about thinking ahead and communicating clearly when stakes are high.

You’ll hear:

1. How a design improvement made a test safer and easier to understand
2. What happens when a “safer” replacement chemical creates new risks
3. Why openness between labs can protect people across the industry
4. How communication can prevent panic and keep a site safe

Extra context for a few terms mentioned in the episode:

1. Elastomers: rubber like materials that can stretch and recover, often used in sealing systems where leakage risk matters.
2. REACH list: EU regulation controlling hazardous chemicals, which can lead to substances being restricted or phased out.
3. Round robin test: multiple labs run the same test to compare results and improve reliability and safety practices.

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Safe Together is a podcast by Kiwa | Production by De Praeters.

What does good safety leadership look like when no one is watching?

Host Ellen talks with Matthew Courtney, Kiwa’s Chief Operating Officer for the Americas and Asia Pacific regions, about visible leadership, trust, and creating habits that keep people safe in real life.

This episode is packed with practical leadership lessons, from how safety culture evolved over decades to why reporting small hazards matters more than most people think. Matthew also shares a concrete example of changing industry practice by redesigning equipment that kept injuring workers.

You’ll hear:

1. How safety expectations changed over time and why that matters today
2. Why “lead by example” is not a slogan, it’s the job
3. How to build a reporting culture without blame
4. Why Power to Stop is good for people, clients, and business

Extra context for a couple of terms mentioned in this episode:

1. Safe T Impact: Kiwa’s digital safety platform that supports hazard reporting, leadership safety walks, action tracking, trend analysis, and shared insights to make safety more proactive and collaborative.
2. Construction Science: based in Australia and part of Kiwa since 2022, specializing in advanced testing, inspection, and certification for construction materials and techniques.

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Safe Together is a podcast by Kiwa | Production by De Praeters.

Industrial non destructive testing (NDT) is a bit like medicine for infrastructure. You inspect welds, pipelines and critical installations without damaging them, so the world can keep running safely.

In this episode, host Ellen sits down with Olegs Poluhins (Latvia) and Max Marynissen (Belgium), two Level 3 experts who share what NDT really looks like on the ground. From supporting major shutdowns across Europe to handling ionizing radiation and incident response, this is a straight up conversation about competence, preparation, and the courage to stop work when something feels off.

You’ll hear:

1. What NDT is and why clients rely on it
2. How international teams prepare for local rules and certifications
3. Real stories about radiation work and incident response
4. Why the Power to Stop only works when leaders and teams back it up

Extra context for a few terms mentioned in the episode:

1. Radiation dose: 40 µSv is very small, about the same as a short flight or a dental X ray.
2. Incident team: a specially trained team that responds when there’s a technical issue with a radioactive source, ensuring everything is handled safely and by the book.
3. Crawler: an X ray device placed inside a pipeline that moves through it autonomously, so no one has to enter the pipe.

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Safe Together is a podcast by Kiwa | Production by De Praeters.