Yuliy Marinov from Aurubis Bulgaria: “Safety starts with personal responsibility.” The company held its Health and Safety Days

In April, Aurubis Bulgaria held its traditional Health and Safety Days—an initiative that each year highlights the company’s top priority: the health, lives, and safety of people.

The events were officially opened by Yuliy Marinov, Operational Manager of “Health and Safety Department” and Rakan Rahbani, Executive Director, with a clear message that safety is not a formality, but a daily responsibility toward ourselves and those around us.

A culture of safety is not built on rules on paper, but through daily decisions, personal example, and constant care for one another. True safety begins when each of us accepts our personal responsibility—toward ourselves, our colleagues, and the family waiting for us at home

mphasized Yuliy Marinov during the opening ceremony.

A special and emotional highlight at the start of the initiative was the greeting from the children of the “Sluntse” Kindergarten in Zlatitsa, who, with traditional Lazarus Day chants for health and prosperity, reminded everyone why safety matters so much.

A special guest at the opening event was Mario Bakalov, who presented the topic of building a culture of safety through the lens of personal responsibility, preparation, and decision-making in critical situations. His participation provided a powerful practical example of how discipline and the right decisions save lives.

As part of the initiative, special attention was given to safety when Working at Height and in high-risk work environments. With the participation of “Vero Scaffolding Bulgaria,” best practices for organization, supervision, and personal responsibility when working at heights were presented, while experts from “MSA Polska” demonstrated modern approaches to safe work in confined spaces and during high-risk activities.

During the demonstrations by Admix EOOD, modern personal protective equipment and solutions for hand and foot protection were presented, including safe work in oily environments, optimal comfort and a precise fit for work boots, as well as comfort during prolonged physical exertion.

The company also placed special emphasis on psychological safety in the workplace. A session was held on the topic of “Ensuring a Healthy Psychological Work Environment,” which included psychological first aid after an incident. Participants learned about the impact of stress on the body, brain, and behavior, as well as practical techniques for restoring a sense of security, grounding exercises, and a 4-step model for post-incident support. Guest lecturer Nikolina Angelova made a special contribution to the topic.

A particularly important part of the Safety Days was the first aid training session, organized in collaboration with the Bulgarian Red Cross Youth Club in Pirdop, with the participation of pupils from the Savo Savov Secondary School in Pirdop and Dr. Ivan Spiroski from Aurubis Bulgaria. The session highlighted the importance of quick response, knowledge, and readiness to help during the critical first minutes of an incident.

The symbolic conclusion of the initiative took place on April 28—World Day for Health and Safety at Work—with the “Together” session, part of the program to change the safety culture at Aurubis Bulgaria, led by Evelina Delcheva and Radoslav Simeonov. The main message was clear once again—a safety culture is built together, through trust, care, and personal example.

This year’s Safety Days also coincided with the celebration of Aurubis’ 160th anniversary—a milestone that symbolically underscores the fact that sustainable development, innovation, and success always begin with caring for people.

For Aurubis Bulgaria, safety is not a one-time event, but a daily choice and a shared responsibility. The company continues to consistently build an environment where health and safety are core values, and a culture of prevention is part of every decision.