Master of QHSE – Emmi Varjonen: ”Shared Processes for Continuous Improvement”
QHSE Specialist Emmi Varjonen oversees management systems being applied to operations at Raumaster Paper Oy. Her daily work involves close collaboration based on both existing processes and continuous improvement of both the company and personal skills.
Effective quality, health, safety and environmental practices enable everyday success for all workers. A healthy and safe work environment, which also considers sustainable development goals, is crucial in creating the quality that ensures demand, and consequently, continuity.
Emmi Varjonen’s role as QHSE Specialist for Raumaster Paper Oy involves maintaining the ISO 9001, ISO 45001 and ISO 140001 management systems, along with documentation and development work. QHSE matters are integral to various processes, and the four factors often overlap in many ways.
"Our operations are based on developed processes and process-based actions. These ensure the high quality of products, services and safety standards. All these aspects are visible in the daily operations of employees, all the way from engineering to manufacturing and installation", says Varjonen.
"Operations are measured on different scales. We regularly conduct internal audits to ensure that tasks are performed as agreed upon. Simultaneously, we constantly seek areas for improvement."
Part of her job includes arranging training and orientation. As Occupational Health and Safety Manager, Varjonen leads the Occupational Health and Safety Committee, aiming to ensure that employees arrive at and leave work healthy.
"We conduct various danger and risk assessments, and I update the related instructions and processes. It’s about continuous improvement, which creates the best and most functional everyday working environment for all of us."
Always at the Forefront of the Latest Information
Varjonen has been with Raumaster Paper Oy since June 2022. She holds degrees in biotechnical engineering and a Master of Science in management and information technology. Her daily work emphasises a continuous desire to learn new things.
"I need to have detailed knowledge on various occupational health and safety and environmental laws and regulations, along with organisational systems and their demands, and be able to integrate them into our practices effectively. Research and combining information, as well as its accurate utilisation, are key parts of my role", says Varjonen.
"I work as a specialist with many different parties, so collaborative and mediations skills are important in my work. My job is to ask questions that others might not have considered and to consult with company leadership. The effects of the improvements are seen over a longer timeframe and make the work more productive."
Even though Varjonen’s job is to take care of QHSE processes and their development, quality, health, safety and environment matters are a shared responsibility. She highlights the variability and meaningfulness of her work, along with the improvement of productivity from a quality perspective, as some of the best aspects of her job.
"Having a broad job description sometimes means encountering situations that require quick reactions. This demands skills in self-management, organisation and prioritisation of multiple tasks simultaneously."
"Research and combining information, as well as its accurate utilisation, are key parts of my role."
Master of QHSE – so how is QHSE mastered?
Emmi Varjonen, QHSE Specialist, Raumaster Paper Oy: “In my work, you must have a genuine interest in learning new things and developing both yourself and the company. I need to understand the processes, and to be able to integrate different demands into daily operations, seeing both the big picture and the details, and combining different kinds of knowledge. My everyday work requires readiness for change and perseverance, as all development work and its implementation always take time.”
