On Tuesday, September 23rd, and Wednesday, September 24th, the SOMA Bedrijfsopleidingen grounds in Harderwijk were awash with blue: GMB Services vans filled the parking lot, employees in orange vests walked back and forth, and drills were being conducted in various locations. The reason? The GMB Safety Days — held on our grounds.
GMB Services organizes Safety Days to keep employees focused on working safely in practice. In collaboration with training agency Baseline, an educational and active program was developed. Each assignment revolved around the same principle: develop a safety plan, implement it, and respond appropriately to unexpected situations or emergencies. Exactly as it works in daily practice. The assignments were supervised by (former) special forces personnel from Baseline. Each assignment drew a parallel between safety during a defense mission and safety while working for GMB Services.
In our expansive outdoor area, participants could fully immerse themselves in various scenarios. One of the tasks involved a blindfolded exercise in which the group had to navigate a hilly terrain. It wasn't an easy task, but all the more instructive: it required clear communication, trust, and a strict division of labor—all crucial factors in a safe working environment.
The training sessions were spread across multiple zones on the SOMA site. This allowed different groups to work on their assignments simultaneously, without getting in each other's way. Baseline supervisors observed closely, provided targeted feedback, and ensured that learning objectives were achieved. GMB's motto, "As Safe as Possible," was visible throughout, and the participants were highly engaged.
At SOMA Bedrijfsopleidingen, safety is more than just a curriculum topic—it's one of our core values. That's why we believe it's important to make our grounds available for these kinds of initiatives. It's wonderful to see how our location functions as a learning environment for professionals in the field.
We offer customized programs in the broadest sense of the word. Each program focuses on safety, whether or not it involves specific machines used in daily practice. Contact one of our account managers and discover what we can do for your organization.
Together we make safety a given.
During the Safety Days, GMB employees practiced realistic scenarios on the SOMA site — teamwork and safety were central.
