Describe your work?
My colleagues and I make a team consisting of eight people located at the Esso Refinery, Slagen, Tønsberg. We work as independent 3rd party contractors and do both quality and quantity work linked up to products that Esso is either buying to process further or selling as final refined products. 

My job as a lab tech is mainly on the quality side, and since we are a 3rd party, we follow the sample from sampling at the shore tanks, registration at lab, analyzing according to specifications, mostly ISO and ASTM, and to final report. When it comes to quantity, we have three inspectors who perform measurements on shore tanks and ships. They have a close dialogue with the harbour master and the ships, and they also send reports of the quantity to both parties, seller and buyer. This is very important because it all comes down to the quality and amount of what has been delivered and what it shall cost. 

Another part of my job is HSE, and to make sure that we follow up on every system concerning this theme. Both Intertek and Esso guidelines and instructions need to be followed and documented, this to ensure our part in improving safe work habits. Some of the work tasks involve high risk. Because of this, HSE is a constantly and ongoing theme. We use different tools to observe our work process, to make sure that we always work in the safest manner. 

What does it take to succeed as a lab technician?
Because our analysis report is the main documentation regarding quality of the product, you must be structured and exact to succeed in this job. We are the independent part and both buyer and seller need a correct quality report to make sure that the products are within the specifications agreed upon. Sometimes our workload is high. What we must prioritize can have a high impact on the work tasks for that day.  No days are alike, and things can change quickly. Although you have made a plan for the next day, it may end up in something completely different. Many things can affect the tasks for the day, for instance such a simple thing as the weather. The coast of Vestfold often has a lot of wind, which can result in swell and therefore delays for the ships.  

Tell us about your career journey at Intertek?
I started at Intertek in 2013 and worked shifts with different tasks. I have always liked to work with quality assurance and HMS. In January there was an opening for me to do more HMS work and I was very pleased to get this opportunity. I like to sit down and bury myself in procedures and check that we do things the right way. That is why this job is spot on for me. I feel that we have an open and good dialog with our leaders, even though they are in Denmark. They give us the trust we need to find good solutions for our team.

How do you perceive Intertek as a company?
I feel proud of being part of Intertek and what the company stands for. Quality. It’s easy to work for a company that has clear guidelines and expectations.  

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