Zwo cargo ships collide in the Baltic Sea near Swinemünde. Hundreds of tons of crude oil spill out, polluting the water and threatening to contaminate the beach. How good it is when there are organizations and people who have the technical equipment and know-how to prevent the worst from happening. Our colleague Dennis from ESSMANN IT Support is one of these people who are called out in such disaster scenarios. Dennis is a volunteer with the THW.
The Federal Agency for Technical Relief (THW) is the federal civil protection organization. It provides support in the event of disasters, floods, environmental accidents and technical assistance, both nationally and internationally. With over 88,000 volunteers in 669 local branches, it is the backbone of civil protection. The modular structure of the organization allows specialists to be deployed in a targeted manner – like Dennis in the oil spill response team.
Dennis trained as a specialist helper at the THW and obtained his inland and sea boating license. He normally invests around 15 hours a month in meetings and training with his comrades. However, large-scale exercises and, of course, operations sometimes fall within his working hours. ESSMANN then gives him time off.
“It’s all good fun too,” says Dennis. “But it would be stupid if I had to sacrifice my vacation for it.” He has just returned from amajor exercise in Poland that played out the initial scenario. Together with the fire department and military from Poland, other THW local associations and environmental authorities, everything was mobilized from straw bales to multi-chamber embankment barriers and from buckets to special pumps to help against an oil spill. Team spirit, coordination skills and communication are required.
THW operation on the Kiel Canal
Because when things get serious, every move has to be right. And everyone involved must be able to communicate. Just like shortly before Christmas 2022, when300,000 tons of crude oil spilled into the Kiel Canal just before the lock at Brunsbüttel. The THW was deployed in protective suits, equipped with oil skimmers, pumps and collection containers, together with local fire departments, local associations, the oil spill response vesselSchahörn and reconnaissance aircraft. “That was very exciting.” Dennis reports. “It’s important that everyone knows that something is at stake.”
Photos: NDR
The THW is made up of a colorful cross-section of people from all walks of life who all work hand in hand and form a team for the cause.
Support for volunteers
“Without volunteers, our society would have a problem. Their commitment to the THW, fire departments and aid organizations is indispensable,” explains Dr.-Ing. Gregor Graßl, Managing Director and Head of Human Resources at ESSMANN. “For us, it goes without saying that we support this work and make the necessary time available for it.” Dennis knows that this is often not a matter of course elsewhere. Even though the training and further education of helpers is required by law and employers are legally obliged to release their employees for training and assignments, they often encounter resistance from their companies.
“I don’t understand how people can have something against such important voluntary work as the THW or the fire department, for example,” Dennis wonders. “After all, if the house is on fire, everyone is happy when it’s put out.”
Although the salary continues to be paid during a leave of absence, employers are reimbursed the wage costs for the absent colleague upon application. “Of course he’ll also be absent from support. Then other colleagues from the team have to step in. But we always manage that. Our customers also show understanding,” says Gregor Graßl.
If you would like to become part of the “blue THW family”, you can findyour local association and opportunities to join.
Photos courtesy of THW/Claus Böttcher.
