Since its inception in 1979, Blomsma’s history illustrates a relentless dedication to visual communication; safety signage, a passion for translating safety policies into effective signage and an ability to adapt to a dynamic market.
Delamine, located on the Chemical Park Delfzijl, has called in Blomsma Signs & Safety to mark and signal the 'Orange zone areas', unloading bays and EX-zones and further provide the entire site with traffic signs and signage.
Read more about this projectThe impact of the Corona virus on the world is undeniable, it affects many facets of our existence and so it does at Blomsma Signs & Safety. With the health of our teams and our customers as our first priority, we have been able to ensure our continuity and even growth during the 'Corona years' 2020 and 2021, despite postponed projects due to economic uncertainty and access restriction measures for several sites.
On September 24, 2020, a new international standard for pipe marking, the ISO20560-1 was officially published. This standard addresses the need for uniform identification of safety information of piping systems. This global standard for marking pipes and storage tanks is the first of its kind.
Read more about the ISO20560 standardISO has published the in 2020 ISO/TS 20559:2020. This technical specification is a design guideline for the development and use of a safety signaling system. The ISO/TS 20559:2020 provides a framework for the systematic use of different categories of safety signaling to reduce risks by communicating them accurately.
The Blomsma Group has now grown into a company with more than 120 employees.
In 2019, Blomsma celebrated its 40th anniversary through a well-attended Open House. With presentations from partners such as 3M and Canon and a speech from the mayor of Zoetermeer, Charlie Aptroot, more than 300 guests got a glimpse of what Blomsma is all about.
The implementation of a completely new and compliant safety signaling system for the BP refinery in Rotterdam started in 2019. The scope of this major project involves site surveys and sign plans, the development of a technical standard, safety signaling, pipe marking and tank marking.
For Nordenhamer Zinkhütte GmbH (a Glencore company) we may provide the safety signage and evacuation plans since 2019.
Read more about this projectThere are 110 employees working for Blomsma in 2018.
With the acquisition of T-ISS Safety Suppliers and SafeSign Products B.V. from Dinxperlo, we are expanding our reach and portfolio in the maritime and offshore sector in particular in the field of (retrospective) safety signalling, low location lighting and maritime safety products.
InfraServ Wiesbaden has awarded Blomsma Signs & Safety GmbH the contract for the marking of pipes at the water treatment plant located on the Kalle-Albert Industrie Park. The water treatment plant has been equipped with PolyesPro® pipe markings by Blomsma. The most recent and current standards and regulations have been used, such as the EU92/58, TRGS 201, ASR A1-3 and DIN2403.
Read more about this projectDue to the increasing demand from the tank storage, (petro) chemical and industrial sectors, the demand for Blomsma Signs & Safety's services has risen sharply. In order to operate even more efficiently and decisively in the German market, the decision was made to open a German branch in Oldenburg.
ExxonMobil had set itself the goal of getting the safety signage at the refinery and chemical plant Europoort fully in order and in line with the applicable standards and laws. The basic principles and regulations in the field of safety had to be translated into effective signage that, where applicable, also had to be carried out in ExxonMobil's house style. Blomsma Signs & Safety has written a standard for this that has been used as a starting point.
In this year Blomsma for the first time obtained the DNV certificate to perform the mandatory, 5-yearly measurements of after-lighting Low Location Lighting on ships. With this certification, ship owners and yards can be sure that all inspections and measurements of Low Location Lighting by Blomsma, comply with Class Program DNV-CP-0484.
In 2015, Blomsma Signs & Safety was awarded the project for the signaling of caverns and processing plants of Storag Etzel in Germany. After the start based on site surveys and a prepared sign plan, the implementation of safety signaling, pipe marking and tank marking started. This project has been extended several times since 2015 and as a result Blomsma is still active for Storag Etzel.
Read more about this projectIn 2015 we provided the Marathon Oil Alba B3 platform with safety signage, escape route marking, low location lighting, cabin safety instructions, platform ID signs and pipe marking after a thorough survey and based on a sign plan. This platform started producing gas for the first time in 2016 off the coast of Equatorial Guinea and was built by Heerema Fabrication Group.
2015 started the major project for the implementation of safety signaling for MSD (Organon) and Aspen. The 1st phase consisted of marking tanks and pipes on the MSD site in Oss. The objective of the project was/is to place all pipe markings and tank markings in strategic and logical positions, and to immediately provide all relevant information and GHS symbols. The tank markings are also provided with an NFPA diamond and GEVI/UN numbering.
Read more about this projectIn 2015, Nouryon (then called AkzoNobel) Industrial Chemicals Rotterdam commissioned Blomsma to create a sign plan for multiple locations in Rotterdam, Arnhem and Herkenbosch. The plan included the installation of safety signage, safety zone signs, pipe markings, tank markings, ATEX markings, lineation and the installation of chain-linked barriers.
Read more about this projectThis year Blomsma successfully completed the ISO9001 certification process and may now call itself ISO9001 certified. The scope of this certificate is the inventory, on-site engineering, installation and maintenance of safety and health signs, evacuation plans, signage and industrial signage.
In 2014 TAQA Energy commissioned Blomsma Signs & Safety to implement a safety signage system on all sites: gas storage and E&P sites. The project started based on site surveys and sign plans created by Blomsma, after which the scope of the project was rolled out: safety signage, regular signage, pipe marking, tank marking and equipment and process identification.
Read more about this projectGate terminal attaches great importance to the environment, safety and health and implements a strict policy. For that reason, Blomsma Signs & Safety started an inventory at Gate terminal B.V. in early 2015, with the goal of mapping out what safety signage is present and required. From this study, a signage plan was drawn up and priorities were determined for the reconstruction of the safety signage.
Read more about this projectIn 2013 we were commissioned by Vermilion Oil & Gas to provide all 60 locations (well/treatment sites) with safety signage in record time. Based on a survey and sign plans, all these 60 locations were provided with safety signs, pipe markings, low location lighting and evacuation plans.
Read more about this projectOur first safety signage project on an offshore wind platform came in 2013, when we were commissioned by Heerema Fabrication Group to provide the DolWin Alpha with safety signage, pipe marking, valve tagging, low location lighting/escape route signage, ID signs and evacuation plans.
Read more about this projectIn record time in 2012 we fitted out our first FPSO of Maersk Oil Ltd. UK named 'Gryphon' with safety signalling and anti-slip materials. After this FPSO many more FPSO's and platforms have been fitted with safety signs by Blomsma Signs & Safety such as the Western Isles, Stena Don and many platforms of Petrogas, GDF Suez, Paragon, Vermillion, Engie, ABB, Dana, Marathon and Statoil.
Read more about this projectIn 2012, in close consultation with the authorities, we carried out the first pipe marking project on a tank terminal. This concerned the BP tank storage terminal in Amsterdam. After this project, based on this best practice, we provided many other terminals with safety signage, pipe marking and tank marking; Rubis, Odfjell (Koole), Oiltanking, Storag Etzel, Gate, OCI Terminal, Vopak, Nustar and Zenith among others.
Read more about this projectIn the run-up to the publication of the ISO 24409 standard in 2010, Blomsma actively participated in the creation of this standard. The growth of international shipping traffic has created a need to provide people traveling and working aboard ships with signs and associated systems that communicate consistent and effective safety information. This international standard specifies a system of safety and security-related signs on ships and other marine installations that is generally consistent with standardized signs with which many will have become familiar in other applications.
Blomsma has actively participated in the development of the ISO 23601 standard. ISO 23601 establishes design principles for displayed escape plans that contain information relevant to the fire safety, escape, evacuation and rescue of the occupants of a location. These plans can also be used by emergency services in the event of an emergency. These plans are intended to be displayed as signs in public areas and workplaces.
In 2008 Blomsma Signs & Safety successfully completed the certification process for SSC certified. The scope of our SSC certificate covers the inventory, on-site engineering, assembly and maintenance of safety and health signs, evacuation plans, signage and industrial signage. With this certificate every client can count on the fact that Blomsma Signs & Safety has the necessary expertise when it comes to carrying out the assignment, but also when it comes to guaranteeing safety, health and the environment.
Blomsma Signs & Safety is co-founder of the Dutch Safety Signs Association and plays an active role in standardising and norming safety symbols and their application in practice. On behalf of the NVVS, a contribution is made to the NEN, Committee on Graphic Symbols. Blomsma Signs & Safety represents NEN Nederland in the ISO committee Safety symbols (TCS 145/SC2/WG 1). We are also an active member of the PSPA (Photoluminescent Safety Products Association). Through our involvement we are quickly informed about international developments in the field.
In addition to the branch in Zoetermeer, there has also been a branch in Hoogezand since 2007. The operational managers of Blomsma Signs & Safety are Brian Lenos and Corstiaan Heijboer. Willem Heijboer is general manager of the Blomsma Group and professionally closely involved with Blomsma Signs & Safety. The location of Blomsma Signs & Safety in Hoogezand is located at Julianastraat 14, 9701 LR, Hoogezand.
For our major client from the very beginning, the Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij (NAM), we are permitted to provide the safety signs at all sites (Sour gas, West, North and OneGas). On the basis of a newly drawn up framework contract, we have been continuously working for NAM on safety signs, pipeline markings, tank markings and equipment and process markings ever since.
The NEN-ISO16069 is an international standard which describes the basic principles of an escape route guidance system consisting of both electrically operated and phosphorescent escape route markings. Blomsma, in the person of director Willem Heijboer, has actively contributed to the development of this standard.
In 2001 Blomsma has 75 employees.
After moving from Industrieweg to Storkstraat, Blomsma Signs & Safety has been located at Storkstraat 1-3 in Zoetermeer, Netherlands since 2001. At this location there is the physical space available to realize the ambitions of being a full service safety signage supplier with its own production and assembly hall.
In 1999 Blomsma was active with approximately 75 employees with very diverse activities. From a strategic point of view, the activities of drawing up the various safety plans were sold under the name Blomsma Consultants, while the other activities, including the safety signage activities, remained within the Blomsma Group. The safety know-how, combined with drawing activities and safety signs, led to the start of Blomsma Signs & Safety.
In 1995 Blomsma was able to fit out her first Dutch naval vessel with safety signs and low location lighting. This multipurpose frigate (M-fregat) is deployable for surface warfare and anti-submarine warfare and has its own air defense on board. After the Zr. Ms. van Amstel, many more naval vessels followed that we were asked to provide with safety signalling and low location lighting based on fluorescent material.
In 1991 Blomsma has for the first time in her existence been able to provide two passenger ships with (bilingual) safety signs and low location lighting. These two ships, named Iris and Tulp, were built by the then Shipyard De Merwede and were destined for China. Since then we have provided many ships (ferries, cruise ships, cargo ships, dredgers) with safety signalling, for clients and shipyards at home and abroad.
In 1989, the company with 17 employees was taken over by the current owner Willem Heijboer and developed into its current form. In mid-1989, drawing work was done digitally for the first time. With the introduction of the first large format full color electrostatic printers, Blomsma quickly invested in this new technology. Software soon became available that could also print graphic files. The safety drawing activities had meanwhile developed into an independent safety consultancy, Blomsma Consultants. At the time, Blomsma Consultants was a leading and trendsetting consultancy in the field of all kinds of emergency plans. It goes without saying that all the drawing, text formatting and reproduction was done in-house.
By 1985, Blomsma had grown to such an extent that a move from Fokkerstraat to Industrieweg was necessary to facilitate the desired growth.
NAM/Shell's first subsea installation, L13-FA-1, was a single well installation connected to the K15-FA-1 production platform by a 10 km steel pipeline. This was the first time Blomsma was allowed to provide the entire site with all forms of safety signage. This project heralded the beginning of years in which Blomsma was able to fit out a great many offshore and onshore locations with safety signs on behalf of NAM/Shell.
Ever since the early years of Blomsma, we have been active in several collaborative ventures, in the person of Willem Heijboer, to lobby for more uniformity and the establishment of best practices regarding graphic symbols and safety signs. This motive is a common thread throughout the history of Blomsma Signs & Safety and also summarises well the difference between Blomsma and other sign makers: in addition to producing and installing safety signs, we are actively involved in developing (international) standards that focus on the recognisability and effectiveness of safety pictograms.
Around 1982 we made, from the requirement as formulated in the Mining Act, for several clients in the oil & gas sector Fire Fighting and Rescue Plans and Calamity Plans. This for both onshore and offshore locations. In these so-called BB&RP's a description in image and text of the layout and technique of the location was given and the procedures that should be followed in case of calamities were laid down.
In addition to the (technical) drawings and illustrations made by Blomsma (and featured in many manuals, technical descriptions and other books), more and more knowledge about safety signs was shared and our customers could be provided not only with signs but also with thorough plans for visualizing safety instructions.
NAM's gas producing platform K7-FA-1 was provided with safety plans by Blomsma. This platform started producing from the Upper Rotliegend formation in the North Sea in October 1982. This K7-FA-1 originally had 6 producing gas wells.
Blomsma's expertise and range of products and services was broadened and during this time we provided many Safety Floor Plans for customers in various industries. These plans are created to spread knowledge of the building/location among its permanent users in anticipation of a possible calamity. Safety plans contain extensive information about safety matters within the building and are used to provide clear and unambiguous communication about the building.
Blomsma started in 1979 in Zoetermeer as a drawing and consultancy company. It developed technical drawings, technical illustrative drawings and safety plans. Within a few years this developed into the complete drafting of safety documentation such as company emergency plans, evacuation plans and calamity plans. For mining installations, firefighting and rescue plans were prepared which were then integrated into calamity plans.
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