At the vibrant heart of Swappie's mission to breathe new life into pre-loved smartphones, a dedicated individual ensures that the innovative work unfolds in a safe and healthy environment. Mairi Matrov, Swappie's Health and Safety Specialist, joined the Tallinn team in June 2024, and during her first 10 months here she has already woven herself into the fabric of the company, driven by a passion for both systematic safety and genuine human connection.

"Indeed it has been a bit less than a year at Swappie, but I can say that already from my first month I felt like I have been working here for a long time." This immediate sense of belonging highlights both Swappie's welcoming culture and Mairi's ability to quickly integrate and make significant contributions.

Mairi was initially drawn to Swappie's origin story – how the company was founded due to a negative personal experience buying a refurbished phone on a consumer marketplace – and appreciated its simple and honest portrayal.  Moreover, the human-centric language resonated with her, contrasting with typical corporate jargon. Mairi was also drawn to the sustainability aspect of Swappie's work. "We live in a world where we don't need to produce anything anymore. It's full of things already. So if I can choose my profession, I would like to either initiate some change or share knowledge or make this world more sustainable. There is so much knowledge on how to produce, but there is not so much knowledge on how to fix or make product lives longer." 

Reflecting on her recruitment process, Mairi recalls having sought a new professional challenge and finding Swappie through what she describes as a "quite accidental process" – an email that sparked a profound feeling. "I immersed myself in some research to ensure that the interest was genuine. Eventually I sent my CV and entered a hiring process that felt somehow very natural. The hiring team was very open, honest and transparent about everything, but I also enjoyed the case assignment where I needed to solve some real-life cases and give some ideas.”   This practical approach allowed her to envision her role and the company culture, contributing to her feeling of familiarity upon joining.

Before finding her place at Swappie, Mairi was deeply involved in academia, completing her thesis and teaching at Tallinn University. Her academic pursuits were initially sparked by a desire to enhance her skills in her previous role within health, safety, environment, and quality.  With a background in biochemistry and chemistry from Taltech and nearly 15 years at Coca-Cola, Mairi has found a role at Swappie that perfectly blends her passion for systematic processes with her love for interpersonal interaction. "What I like about my job is that it combines two interesting elements for me. One is a system that creates this systematic approach, but the other one is talking with people and understanding their work. I actually love both and I love that I have a possibility to combine them." Currently focused on risk assessment, she describes her days as a '50/50' balance between documentation and direct interaction with her colleagues.  

Approaching her first "Swappieversary," Mairi reflects positively on her employee experience.  She emphasizes the importance of thoughtful consideration alongside swift action, particularly in health and safety, which she firmly believes is "not a compromise" but a matter of data-driven decisions. Her goal is to cultivate a "behavior-based safety" culture where awareness and understanding drive adherence.

For Mairi, Swappie's commitment to health and safety is intrinsically linked to its sustainability mission. "A very important part of sustainability is that while we are a sustainable business refurbishing iPhones, we do it in a way that our employees remain healthy, and they have a safe workplace." This holistic approach includes careful chemical selection, responsible waste management, thoughtful workplace layout, and a focus on overall employee well-being.

Mairi has already spearheaded initiatives leading to significant safety improvements. She highlights the ongoing efforts to minimize hazardous chemical usage through thorough risk assessments. The implementation of local exhaust systems in screen refurbishment is another tangible improvement. Mairi expresses particular pride in the successful establishment of a health and safety representative committee in Estonia, a testament to employee engagement and a legal requirement often met with apathy elsewhere. High participation rate in the elections and active involvement of the representatives underscore Swappie's positive safety culture. 

Mairi finds immense satisfaction in observing employees proactively adhering to safety protocols and engaging thoughtfully with training.  She recalls a particularly proud moment when an employee suggested a labeling solution for chemical bottles after a training session. Furthermore, Mairi has been happy to witness a strong network of volunteer first aiders at Swappie, which reflects a caring and proactive workforce in her eyes.

When discussing Swappie's culture, Mairi finds its inclusivity especially appealing.  "Definitely," she affirms. "It aligns very nicely with my understanding that we are all unique. Inclusivity is also visible in situations where there is a problem to be fixed but the  social environment stays friendly, polite and professional."  She also highlights that it is easy to connect with colleagues as there is a fundamental sense of belonging and sustained passion for doing good for the planet.

Reporting directly to the Head of Production, Mairi values their collaborative relationship, stating, “I really enjoy having a partner for discussion. We share a similar approach to things.” She also appreciates the autonomy she is granted in her role. "There's zero micromanagement. I appreciate the autonomy to choose my focus, knowing I can seek help when needed but also make independent decisions and take full responsibility for my tasks.”

Looking ahead, Mairi's key health and safety priorities include implementing a comprehensive program to serve as a roadmap for the year. A core goal is the elimination of workplace accidents through meticulous tracking and investigation of incidents and near misses.  Excitingly, Mairi is also involved in the planning and design of a new office and production space extension, allowing for the integration of health and safety considerations from the outset.  "I love having the opportunity to build from scratch and consider every health and safety aspect. It allows us to dream big and then select what is truly essential and necessary. There are so many interesting challenges to solve – it's like a puzzle!” 

Outside of Swappie, Mairi's commitment to health, safety and environment manifests in practical ways, such as her preference for reusable cups over plastic, strong advocacy for handwashing over sanitizing, and her meticulous attention to product labels. Mairi describes herself as someone who appreciates in-depth exploration and thoughtful decision-making over hasty actions. However, she also embraces the unknown, as demonstrated by her spontaneous agreement to a trip to Italy, leading her and a friend to learn Italian beforehand!  On a more personal note, Mairi finds knitting to be a meditative practice. She also enjoys her daily commute by public transport, using the time to indulge in her passion for reading. You might also find her exploring the interesting museums of Tallinn.

Mairi's dedication, her blend of systematic rigor and genuine care for her colleagues, makes her an invaluable asset to Swappie. She embodies a proactive approach to well-being, ensuring that as Swappie continues to grow and innovate, employee health and safety remain paramount, contributing to the organization's overall success and sustainability.  Her work is a testament to the fact that a safe and healthy workplace is not just a requirement, but a cornerstone of a thriving and ethical company.

She recently got an anonymous shoutout in Swappie’s eNPS survey:
“Mairi is really serious about her job. I feel safe while working here”.

Hence, thank you Mairi, our Health and Safety Guardian!