Case Studies

Can you tell us about your current role at Cargill and the work you do there?

I currently work as an EHS Site specialist at Cargill CBI’s Dilovası Plant in Türkiye. I joined the site in December 2023 as a third-party safety specialist focusing on contractor site work. I moved into my current role at the beginning of 2025.

Cargill is a global company operating in the food, agriculture and bioindustrial businesses. Our site produces food-grade powdered products and industrial oils. One of our key products is FR3, a transformer fluid made from renewable vegetable oil. I am responsible for the Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) function at the site. My main responsibilities include risk assessments, incident investigations, safety training, contractor safety, legal compliance and EHS reporting. I also support improvement projects and work closely with different departments to improve our safety culture.

No two days are exactly the same. Most days start with operational meetings where we review priorities, ongoing activities and any safety concerns. During the day, I may be in the field talking with employees and contractors, participating in risk assessments, reviewing projects, supporting investigations or following up improvement actions.

I also take part in activities such as Pre-Startup Safety Reviews (PSSR), Root Cause Analysis (RCA) investigations, and process safety improvement projects.

Could you tell us about your career journey so far?

I decided to work in health and safety after the Occupational Health and Safety Law came into force in Türkiye. At that time, I felt this profession matched both my personality and my way of looking at life. Looking back today, I believe it was a good decision.
I started my career with a German company providing industrial cleaning services at one of Türkiye's largest oil refineries. Working with international teams helped me see different ways of working and introduced me to international health and safety standards. It was also during this period that I first heard about NEBOSH.

After this project, I joined another company working on the construction and commissioning of a new process unit at the same refinery. This role gave me experience in construction, electrical works and commissioning activities. During this period, I wanted to improve myself. I completed the NEBOSH International General Certificate, studied Construction Technology and joined an Erasmus programme in Europe, where I worked for three months and experienced different working cultures. After returning to Türkiye, I worked on tank maintenance and reconstruction projects in the refinery industry. Although I learned a lot, I felt it was time to step outside my comfort zone and gain experience in a different sector. That decision led me to Cargill, where I continue my career today.

You have successfully completed the NEBOSH International General Certificate and the NEBOSH HSE Certificate in Process Safety Management

I completed the NEBOSH International General Certificate (IGC) in 2021. I was already working in the health and safety field but wanted to further develop my health and safety knowledge and gain an internationally recognised qualification. I had heard about NEBOSH during my early years working with international teams in the refinery industry. Many experienced safety professionals spoke positively about it, so it was a natural choice for me.
The COVID-19 pandemic was happening when I was preparing for the IGC assessment. Like many others, I found that period challenging because of the enforced separation from others. However, I used the extra time at home as an opportunity to focus on my studies and invest in my professional development.

One thing I really liked about the NEBOSH IGC was the assessment method. I was used to traditional exams where you memorise information and answer questions. NEBOSH was different. It required me to understand the information, analyse scenarios and apply my knowledge to real workplace situations. At first this was unfamiliar, but I liked the idea that the assessment measured how you use knowledge, not only how much you remember.
After joining Cargill and taking on more responsibilities, I realised I needed to improve my understanding of process safety. I work in a manufacturing environment where it is important to understand not only occupational safety but also process risks. As I became more involved in discussions about projects, process changes and risk management, I wanted to build a stronger technical foundation.

When Cargill offered me a development opportunity, I signed up for the NEBOSH HSE Certificate in Process Safety Management (PSM). My goal was not simply to get another certificate. I wanted to better understand process safety and become more confident when discussing technical topics.
Unlike the NEBOSH International General Certificate, which I had studied in Turkish, I had to complete the training and assessment for PSM in English. This, combined with the fact that many of the technical terms were new to me meant I found it more challenging than the IGC. At the time, I was working in a busy role, so most of my studying took place during evenings and weekends.

The most challenging topics were related to fire and explosion hazards and their causes. However, I found the learning materials very useful. The course included real accident examples, investigation results, diagrams and visual explanations. These helped me understand complex topics more easily and connect them with situations that can happen in real workplaces.
I studied the IGC with RRC International and the PSM with NTSS Egitim Ve Danismanlik Ltd Stl. Both learning providers offered good support and useful learning materials. I would happily recommend them to other learners.
Looking back, both qualifications have helped me grow professionally and personally. They improved my confidence, strengthened my technical understanding and changed the way I think about risks. Today, I look beyond individual hazards and pay more attention to systems, barriers and the factors that influence safety performance. Most importantly, they helped me become a better EHS professional.

Since completing both these qualifications, have you made any changes or improvements in your role or workplace?

Yes. The biggest change has been the way I think about risk. Before these qualifications, I focused mainly on the task and the hazards around it. Today, I ask more questions. Why do we do this task? Is it really necessary? Can we do it in a different way? Can we eliminate the risk instead of managing it?This mindset has changed the way I take part in risk assessments and safety discussions. I now spend more time understanding the process and looking for solutions at the source of the problem.

Since completing these qualifications, I have played an active role in several improvement initiatives, including decontamination processes, hazardous chemical elimination and reduction, and the development of an operator competency system. I would say these qualifications gave me more than knowledge. They taught me to think deeper, ask better questions and focus on prevention rather than consequences.

Can you share an example of a situation where knowledge gained from these two NEBOSH qualifications helped you solve a problem or improve safety in the workplace?

One example is the operator competency system we are developing at our site. As I learned more about process safety, I realised how important it is to truly understand the process. The more I understood the process, the more I understood the risks behind it. One of the topics covered in the Process Safety Management course was operator competency. It highlighted that everyone involved in a process should have the right knowledge and understanding, not only of their task but also of the process itself.

This encouraged me to take an active role in developing an operator competency system that supports learning and strengthens process understanding across the site. I have also been involved in decontamination and hazardous chemical elimination and reduction projects.
For me, one of the most valuable lessons from these qualifications was understanding that safety is not only about procedures and equipment. It is also about people, knowledge and experience.

Has achieving these qualifications influenced your future career plans?

Achieving these qualifications has motivated me to keep learning and developing myself.
Health and safety is a field where learning never stops. Every new process, project and challenge teaches you something new.
My goal is to continue improving my knowledge and use what I learn to help create safer workplaces, healthier employees and a stronger safety culture.

I also enjoy sharing knowledge with others. I believe learning becomes more valuable when it helps other people grow and improve as well.
Looking ahead, I would like to continue developing my knowledge in both occupational and process safety.
The NEBOSH Diploma is definitely something that interests me, and I hope I will have the opportunity to complete it in the future.

What do you enjoy most about working in health and safety?

I like that you get to work with everyone. I enjoy talking to different people, understanding different processes and getting involved in many different topics across the site. Whether it is production, maintenance, quality or a new project, there is always something interesting to explore and understand.
I am naturally curious, so I enjoy asking questions, understanding how things work and looking for ways to improve them. That is what keeps the job interesting for me.

Looking back on your career so far, what achievement are you most proud of?

I would say that I am most proud of my development journey. When I started my career, health and safety was still a relatively new profession in Türkiye, and I did not come from an engineering background. Over the last ten years, I have continuously invested in myself. I have improved my technical knowledge, developed my English skills, gained international qualifications and built experience in different industries and projects.

Today, being able to work for a global company like Cargill and having responsibility for the EHS function at site level is something I am very proud of.
One thing I have realised is that I have applied the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle not only to management systems but also to my own career.
I set goals, learn, improve, review my progress and then look for the next challenge.
I believe my biggest achievement is not a qualification or a job title. It is the person I became during the journey.

What advice would you give to someone who is considering a career in health and safety or thinking about taking the NEBOSH International General Certificate or NEBOSH HSE Certificate in Process Safety Management?

My advice would be to stay curious. Health and safety is a broad field, and nobody knows everything. Focus on understanding, not memorising.
For anyone considering the NEBOSH International General Certificate or the NEBOSH HSE Certificate in Process Safety Management, I would say the effort is worth it. Most importantly, do not be afraid to ask questions. In my experience, learning usually starts with a simple question.

Do you have anything further that you would like to add?

I would like to thank the people who supported me throughout my career. Every project, challenge and qualification helped me learn something new and see things from a different perspective.

I am grateful for the opportunities I have had so far, and I am excited to see what comes next.