- People
From football field to facility floor – Petri’s parallel careers thrive on teamwork
Who is best suited to handle two demanding careers of completely different kinds? A former professional football player, of course. At Boliden Harjavalta in Finland, sulfuric acid is produced by purifying gases from molten minerals. That’s where you’ll find Petri Viljanen working as a supervisor—and as an elite-level football referee.
– All my workdays are different, and I learn new things every single day.
The Harjavalta facility is home to the only nickel smelter in Western Europe, but it also produces other metals like copper for example. Perhaps less well-known is its sulfuric acid production. It’s somewhat paradoxical, given that sulfuric acid is one of the world’s most widely used chemicals. It has many applications—from fertilizer to paper production. At Boliden Harjavalta, the goal is to produce the most sustainable product possible. Since 2023, they’ve offered “low-carbon sulphuric acid,” with a carbon footprint far below the industry average.
Over ten years without incidents
No matter how sustainably it’s produced, sulfuric acid is, of course, a highly corrosive substance that can appear risky to those not in the know.
– You shouldn’t be afraid of sulfuric acid, but you must respect it, says Supervisor Petri Viljanen.
“Maybe it’s that trust and synergy that hold the key to nearly eleven injury-free years at the facility—statistics any football team would envy.”
Working in a chemicals-intensive environment may sound risky, but safety awareness at Boliden Harjavalta is high. Petri and his colleagues start each day with a meeting focused solely on safety. It has paid off: for over ten years, the operation has been completely incident-free for its own staff.
– We always place great importance on finding the best working methods and the best ways forward, both in terms of sustainability and safety.
Planning and understanding managers make two careers possible
A demanding environment like a sulfuric acid plant obviously requires an aptitude for teamwork, as well as curiosity and a desire to grow. That seems to describe Petri perfectly. In addition to being a supervisor, he has a second career as a football referee and is also a former professional player. Petri refereed international matches until last year; now he only referees in Finland. How does he manage his schedule?
– A supportive employer is crucial, and I’m glad Boliden makes this possible. When I was still refereeing internationally, I spent more than a hundred days traveling in a single year. It wouldn’t have worked if my managers hadn’t been on board.
Teamwork is key to both football and facility work
There may even be some synergy that helps both of Petri’s careers.
– Teamwork is important on the sulfuric acid plant floor as well as on the football pitch. Sometimes you need to help others; other times, you need a helping hand yourself. And you have to be able to trust your colleagues.
Maybe it’s that trust and synergy that hold the key to nearly eleven injury-free years at the facility— statistics any football team would envy. And speaking of football, we naturally need to ask Petri if referees are allowed to have favourite teams. It turns out it’s fine now that he no longer works internationally.
– I enjoy watching Manchester United and Real Madrid play, he says with a smile.
