Nadja – Team Leader, CAD Department
Nadja has been working as a skilled draughtswoman at CWS Fire Safety since 2018. She has been the team leader of the CAD department for four years. Today, she shares her story and talks about her journey from architecture to fire safety.
"I create and edit fire safety plans, such as fire brigade plans, escape and rescue plans, route maps, and special plans in accordance with DIN standards for customers, fire brigades, and authorities," explains Nadja. In order to create these fire safety plans, preparation is essential, such as checking and comparing the local conditions at the customer's site. This is done using the customer's templates, such as fire protection concepts, approval documents, existing implementation plans, and much more. In addition, as a team leader, she is involved in all important processes. She leads and motivates the team, organises and coordinates the workflows within the CAD department. Conflict management and the implementation of corporate goals are also not neglected. In addition to many organisational activities, the team leader also enjoys taking on creative tasks. "When time allows, I create new ID cards for employees or signage for the office," says Nadja.
From architect to expert in fire safety plans
After successfully completing her architecture degree, Nadja worked in the construction industry for a few years. Due to family planning, she worked as a freelance planner for several years and had already drawn up fire safety plans with an acquaintance. This was the key to CWS Fire Safety branch in Bielefeld. There she was able to acquire expertise in fire brigade plans, escape and rescue plans, and training as a fire safety officer. "Sometimes I'll be inspecting the premises at an iron foundry one day and working in an office building the next. The conditions are completely different. The expertise I've acquired helps me to transfer everything to a small format so that it can be read by everyone who needs these plans," explains the team leader and expert draughtswoman.
Fun and challenges at work
What Nadja enjoys most about her job as a technical draughtswoman is working with people and customer contact. She also describes her job as a nice change from architecture. "In my previous job as an architect, I created empty spaces. Now, I have to identify where each fire protection element is located in a complex industrial environment," explains the CAD team leader. Although it took some time to acquire this skill, it helps her enormously in performing her job efficiently.
When asked what challenge the CAD team leader was particularly well equipped to tackle, Nadja mentions the change of industry from architecture to fire protection. "Fire protection wasn't really covered in my studies, even though it was already a very exciting field at the time," explains the expert draughtswoman. Due to the fact that support was urgently needed, she was able to quickly find her feet in her new environment, even under considerable pressure. Another challenge was the additional personnel responsibility in her new position as team leader of the CAD department. "Compared to before, there is now even more organisational work to do. In addition to my own work, supporting the team is very important," reports Nadja. The expert draughtswoman has also risen to this challenge. She feels very comfortable in her position as team leader at CWS Fire Safety.
High social status
The team leader of the CAD department decided to switch to preventive fire protection partly because of the high social status of the industry. "Fire protection is absolutely essential. Figures clearly show that fire protection reduces the number of fatalities and provides better protection for property," explains Nadja. The expert draughtswoman also mentions that her customers are very grateful that a lot of work is taken off their hands.
Assistance with fire extinguisher maintenance
To broaden her horizons, Nadja accompanied a service technician from CWS Fire Safety to a nursery school to carry out maintenance on the fire extinguishers. Many people will be aware that children are always good for a surprise. The expert illustrator probably did not expect a child's reaction to the maintenance of the fire extinguishers. "A boy of about four came up to us and, of course, wanted to know exactly what we were doing there and whether we would put the fire extinguishers back in the right place," explains the team leader. As if that weren't remarkable enough, the boy knew all the locations where fire extinguishers were installed and where the emergency exits were. "That's when I realised that even the youngest children can be made aware of fire safety issues," Nadja concludes.
Tips for future team leaders
Nadja has some clear advice for anyone interested: "You should be open to change, have good people skills and always be approachable," she advises anyone interested in a position as a team leader in fire safety at CWS Fire Safety.
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