Marek Szendzielorz
Years of service: 03.10.1990 – CURRENTLY
The place my grandfather and father worked
I joined the Czechowice Refinery in the autumn of 1990, following a family tradition that had already tied us to the plant for decades. I began as a firefighter in the refinery’s own fire brigade and, soon afterwards, moved into occupational health and safety.
The story of my family is closely woven into the story of the refinery. My grandfather worked here after the war as a bricklayer in the construction department; my father was a foreman in maintenance; and I became the third generation to spend my working life within these gates. In Czechowice-Dziedzice, that was nothing unusual. Entire families worked side by side, and bonds formed on the job often grew into friendships that lasted a lifetime.
My first months were spent in the company fire brigade, at a time when the refinery was still a major crude oil processing plant. Almost 1,500 people worked here, or close to 1,700 if you included the pupils from the plant school. Each day, when a shift ended, throngs of workers streamed through the factory gates. Today, that scene survives only in memory, but back then it was a powerful sign of the refinery’s strength, scale and importance to the town.
Everyday work, everyday responsibility
After a little under a year, I moved into the occupational health and safety department, and that is where I went on to build my career. At the time, safety in industry was understood very differently from today. Each year, the refinery recorded 30 to 40 accidents, and the safety team examined every case carefully, looking for causes, drawing lessons and working to prevent similar incidents in the future. Life at the refinery demanded constant attention and a deep sense of responsibility, because the processes taking place around us were complex, powerful and unforgiving of mistakes.
Some incidents have stayed with me vividly, especially serious breakdowns and fires. One of the hardest moments was the explosion at the ABT unit in 1992, when a refinery employee suffered severe burns. Events like that leave a lasting mark. They reminded us all that safety was never simply a matter of procedures or regulations. It was, above all, about protecting people’s lives and health.
Once the facilities fell silent
Over the years, I’ve been able to see just how much the refinery has changed. The end of crude oil processing plant marked a turning point. Although we knew that this day would come eventually, it was hard to come to terms with the sight of the idle facilities and the silence that had suddenly descended on a place that had previously been full of activity and the sounds of machinery at work. For many of us, the subsequent demolition of the processing columns marked the symbolic end of an era.
At the same time, a new chapter opened. The expansion of the distribution business and the changes connected with Grupa LOTOS brought about major organisational and technological changes. Particular emphasis was placed on health and safety at work. Things that were once an everyday occurrence now seem almost unimaginable. I remember tanker loading, when a worker would open the manhole cover by hand and check the fuel level whilst standing amid fumes petrol fumes. Today, the entire process is carried out in a fully integrated and automated manner, and safety standards are incomparably higher than they once were.
Progress has also been made in the day-to-day organisation of work. When I started my career, there were only a few computers in the factory. Nowadays, it is hard to imagine life without modern systems and digital solutions.
Community is stronger than change
Yet through all these changes, it was the people who mattered most. They shaped the character of the plant and made the refinery more than just a workplace. It was a community spanning generations, part of the town’s history and an important part of the lives of those who passed through its gates every day.
The people I met along the way hold a special place in my memory. I have fond memories of Ms Wiesława Profus, who taught me the foundations of occupational health and safety and instilled in me the most important professional values. My mentor was Stanisław Galac, from whom I learnt to look at safety through the lens of prevention and responsibility. I also cherish the memory of working in the same company as my father. Of all those who managed the refinery, I hold CEO Marek Lesisz in the highest regard — a man of integrity, fairness and tremendous respect for others.
For the residents of Czechowice-Dziedzice, the refinery was always more than a place of work. It provided stability for thousands of families, supported the town’s development and took part in many local initiatives. Over the years, technology and environmental standards changed, and successive investments made the plant increasingly modern and environmentally friendly.
Looking back, I think of the refinery first and foremost as a place that allowed me to build a peaceful and dignified life. It gave me a sense of purpose, security and the opportunity to develop. It was a demanding place, and at times a difficult one, but it taught us responsibility and mutual trust. I feel fortunate to have been part of that story, and I cherish its memory with pride.