‘You should never cut corners when it comes to staff safety’
When Robin Hartman walks through or around the buildings of the Faculty of Science (FWN), he’s always alert. He looks up, around, and behind him, constantly aware of his surroundings. As the head of emergency response (BHV), the safety of staff and students is his top priority.
Robin is trained as a zoologist and biomedical analyst. With over 25 years of lab experience, he knows exactly what can go wrong. He’s been involved in emergency response for as long as he’s been working, so he also knows what’s needed to keep things safe. Since 2007, he’s worked at the faculty, starting in the Pharmacology department and, since March 2023, within the Health, Safety and Environment service (HSE) as head of emergency response.
‘If you think you know better, take over’
‘I was part of the emergency response team led by my predecessor, Peter Roemelé, and I didn’t hold back when something wasn’t going well,’ Robin says. ‘When he retired, he said: “If you think you can do better, then you should take over.”’
Robin didn’t need much time to consider it. For a year, he shadowed Peter while continuing his work in Pharmacology. ‘That’s when I realised how much the role actually involves. It’s not just about leading the team, a responsibility I share with Jeroen Haars, we’re also active throughout the faculty. At HSE, we advise departments on how to create safe working environments for their staff.’
Safety at work is Robin’s number one concern. At the faculty, there are currently 135 emergency response officers, spread across five buildings and teams, each with its own specific needs and challenges. ‘At the Hortus, for example, you’re dealing with 250,000 visitors a year, which brings completely different safety concerns than at the LIC, where lab risks are higher due to the use of chemical substances.’
‘The mindset at HSE is clear: you should never cut costs when it comes to staff safety. We’re fully committed to that—both with institute leadership and on the work floor.’
Taking personal responsibility
One key difference at the Faculty of Science is that the doors don’t lock after hours. People continue working outside regular office times. ‘That means you have to adapt the way your team is organised. Even if someone’s working alone in an otherwise empty building, their safety still has to be guaranteed.’
Whatever the risks or issues, Robin believes that everyone is responsible for knowing how to work safely. ‘You can make sure your own work is safe, but if something does go wrong, there needs to be a system in place to reduce the impact. That’s what BHV is for.’
Robin says the emergency response setup at the faculty is in good shape. ‘I’m proud of that. We’re proactive and want to make sure everyone is properly trained before they start work. We aim to keep standards high. The faculty is growing, and budgets aren’t always keeping pace, which is a challenge. But the mindset at HSE is clear: you should never cut costs when it comes to staff safety. We’re fully committed to that—both with institute leadership and on the work floor.’
The emergency response team at the Huygens building is looking for new members. Interested? Get in touch with Robin Hartman.
Colleague lost
Robin also knows from experience that things can go wrong. One incident has stayed with him. ‘A staff member was working alone somewhere in the building, and his colleagues couldn’t find him or get in touch. After a long search, he was finally found in the evening. He had had a stroke and couldn’t call for help. Luckily, he made a good recovery, but it really brought home the risks of working alone.’
Sometimes, though, it’s less serious—but still important. ‘We recently had a report about a wasp nest in the garden in front of the Gorlaeus Building, near the white benches. It’s cordoned off now. You don’t want colleagues sitting down for lunch there, unaware, and getting stung.’
‘So here’s a message to all lecturers: start your course with a safety-focused practical. It’s not just for the students’ benefit. It’s for everyone’s.’
Staying alert at the start of the academic year
Right now, Robin is busy organising BHV and first aid training. Emergency response officers need to be trained and refreshed every year. On top of that, every staff member and student has to take a fire extinguisher training before starting lab work. ‘I really enjoy the planning and coordination side of the job. And I need to make sure everyone’s alert again by the start of the new academic year. Most accidents in the lab happen early on. So here’s a message to all lecturers: start your course with a safety-focused practical. It’s not just for the students’ benefit. It’s for everyone’s.’