Insight into occupational safety structure and fields of activity
At the 35th Security Dialogue of the Security & Safety Engineering degree progamme, Furtwangen University welcomed the customs authorities as a partner. Customs is involved wherever illegal goods flows, tax offenses, or dangers to people and the environment may occur, and the fields of activity and potential risks are correspondingly diverse: chemical, biological, and physical hazards, dealing with aggressive individuals, high stress levels, finding weapons, and even contact with animals are part of everyday life for many customs officers. That is why occupational safety is particularly important – as became clear during the insight provided by the occupational safety team of the General Customs Directorate together with colleagues from the Singen Main Customs Office to the prospective safety engineers on the course.
In addition to the activities of customs, career opportunities and technical and safety-related topics were also presented, including detection technology, radiation protection, handling hazardous substances, and the occupational safety structure at customs. In addition to technical insights into customs-specific requirements in occupational health and safety, the focus was also on specific application examples. Participants gained practical insights into detection methods and protective measures, such as the inspection of fumigated freight containers and the safe handling of chemical substances. Of particular added value was the interdisciplinary exchange between the university, customs authorities, and the Occupational Health and Safety Department of the public administration.
The event underscored the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation for effective and future-oriented occupational safety. The positive feedback from participants confirms the success of the event. The exchange between students on theory and practice is an essential building block for the development of greater safety – both in the university context and in the regulatory environment. In addition, the event offered customs authorities a good opportunity to present themselves to students as a potential employer.