Anyone who speaks to Tjeerd Hage quickly notices: he’s someone who doesn’t wait for something to go wrong. He’s been working at the terminals for six years, and for the past 2.5 years as an installation engineer, specialising in electrical safety. “I’m the installation engineer for low and high voltage, an ATEX expert, and since September 2025, I’ve also been responsible for managing SIL protections within functional safety”.
Three safety levels then. And that’s exactly what makes his work so important and complex. Tjeerd is 46 years old, works from Monday to Friday, and begins his day early. “I usually start around 6:45 or 7:00 AM. After that, the place fills up quickly”.
“My work is mainly talking, coordinating, and explaining”
Although his job title sounds technical, the core of his work doesn’t just involve systems and standards, it involves people. “About 75% of my time is taken up by my specialisations. Reading standards, updating work instructions, providing toolboxes… and above all, a lot of communication”. For Tjeerd, that communication isn’t a side-issue, it’s a key aspect. “Creating engagement is so important. If it’s just: ‘This is how it has to be done,’ you get zero engagement. And then you end up with even more work in the long run”.
Three overlapping disciplines
Tjeerd explains that safety at a terminal is never just one subject. Everything is interconnected. “I always call it the trinity: electrical safety, explosion safety, and instrumental safety. If something goes wrong anywhere in that chain, it impacts all three”.
He gives a concrete example. “You have tanks with SIL overfill protection. This ensures overfilling doesn’t occur, because if it does, liquid escapes. That liquid could be explosive or flammable”. That’s where ATEX comes into play: “You have to prevent equipment from igniting it. Maintenance must be organised so that the risk simply isn’t there”.
Not waiting for things to pile up
What characterises Tjeerd is that he doesn’t sit back if something is left hanging. “If I feel like something has been lying around for too long, I speak up”. It sounds level-headed, but it says a lot: he’s someone who looks ahead and takes responsibility. Not as a ‘controller’, but because he knows what the consequences can be.
“The goal is simply for everyone to go home safe every day”.
From operator to specialist
His career began on the shop floor. “I started as a process operator. At my first job, I was one of the few who actually walked through all their factories. I thought: there’s more than just this”. He started looking for a place where the bar was higher. “Then I joined a company with very high standards. That triggers you. You think: Okay, this is the level”.
That curiosity has always remained. “My goal is to do some form of study every year. Either a specialisation or something new”. He emphasises that Liquin gives him the space for this. “If it adds value to the company, they’re open to it”.
Getting 400 people on board
What makes his work challenging is not just the details; it’s the change. “Perseverance is important, as is creative thinking”. Safety isn’t improved with a single email or procedure. “You don’t have to convince one person. You have to convince 400 people to adopt a different way of thinking”.
That’s why he actively promotes collaboration, both internally and with external parties.
“For the new high-voltage contract, I don’t want a partner that does the work for us. I want a partner that’s going to do it with us”.
Audits as a benchmark
While many people find audits stressful, Tjeerd sees them as a logical moment to take stock. “Some people dislike audits, but I think they’re valuable experiences. That’s when you know: Okay, where do we need to improve?”. He also takes it personally: “I’m responsible for ensuring there are good work instructions and checks in place. So, if an auditor says ‘This isn’t right,’ I take it to heart”.
A good day ends with a laugh
Despite the responsibility and the pressure, Tjeerd likes to end the day on a playful note. “We almost always finish with a joke. It may not even be about work, but just about going home feeling good”.
And perhaps that says the most about his role at Liquin. Safety is serious and the technical details are demanding, but collaboration is something you do together. “It’s becoming a tighter-knit group. Ultimately, we are doing this all together”. Finally, Tjeerd hopes more people see how broad and interesting this field is. “I think many electrical technicians don’t see the possibilities in this field. It’s so much more than just connecting a wire”.
