Qualitime: Short true-to-life stories from everyday life, written by our colleague Fred Vahlkamp. With a little imagination, you can relate these stories to topics such as risk management, process management, and incident management. Enjoy reading.
Two Dents
1.96 metres, that’s what the instruction manual says. I hardly ever read those booklets, but today we are parking in a parking garage for the first time, so I want to know exactly how tall my one-week-old Volkswagen Transporter is. Upon arriving at the theatre in Breda, the entrance sign reassures me: height 2.05 metres. That gives me 9 centimetres of clearance, so no problem at all. The entrance ramp descends quite steeply, and once at the bottom it transitions rather abruptly into a flat surface. And right above that transition hangs the red-and-white striped steel beam. Bang! Two dents: one in the roof of my new van and one in my self-confidence. That will never happen to me again, I promise myself once I have recovered from the shock.
It’s a Matter of Precision
A brand-new Volkswagen Transporter later, I am driving with two colleagues towards Theatre Flint in Amersfoort. That is where we will hold our annual conference on 16 November 2025. Upon arrival, there is a Kiss and Ride area and a parking garage. Above the entrance, the sign reads 1.95 metres, and suddenly that beam from Breda seems to be right here, gently swaying back and forth as if daring me. This Transporter is 1.94 metres high. A matter of centimetres, you could say. The old saying about the donkey and the stone immediately comes to mind, so it is back to the Kiss and Ride for me. With a “I’m definitely not falling for that” look, I wave once more at the steel beam. You should have stayed in Breda!
A Permit You’ll Never Forget
Once inside, I explain that my vehicle is parked in the Kiss and Ride area because the garage and my van are simply not a good match. “In that case, you risk a fine,” I am told. Fortunately, our hostess has a solution: a permit allowing me to park in a small square next to the Kiss and Ride area. “If you move the vehicle there, I’ll get the permit.”
No sooner said than done. The van is parked, and almost immediately a side door of the theatre opens and our hostess comes outside carrying a large wooden board, at least 80 centimetres wide and about 30 centimetres high. In the middle of the board I notice a small paper rectangle attached to it. That turns out to be the permit. Seeing the look of surprise on my face, she says, “People sometimes forget to return the permit, so this helps.” She smiles from ear to ear as I wrestle the board onto the dashboard behind the steering wheel. You certainly won’t forget that.
After the warm welcome and a successful visit, we head back to the office with our minds full of ideas. The permit is once again neatly back in its place at the theatre. See you on 17 November!
A Bit of Risk Management
In Breda, the instructions appeared to be incorrect, or perhaps no account had been taken of the fact that the entrance ramp descended steeply before abruptly transitioning into a flat section. The extended wheelbase of my vehicle effectively caused the van to be lifted slightly by that situation. The result: a loud bang and a racing heart. The stated clearance height of 2.05 metres was factually correct, but apparently not an effective measure for preventing risks.
The preventive measure involving the permit, on the other hand, is remarkably effective. If you walk off with that permit, then quite literally and figuratively you have a board in front of your head. Another side effect of this oversized permit is that it is not likely to go missing around the office either. Those kinds of ideas inspire me not only to write a Quality Time story, but also to think of practical applications. So if you happen to run into me somewhere, it may not be wise to ask for a business card; I have made sure you won’t forget it ;-).
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