Emma Jeffery | May 2025

This is where I believe we’ve gone wrong - confusing systems with certainty. We’ve built layers of policy, procedure, process (much of it necessary) and prequalification, then taken comfort in their existence, assuming they’re being followed, understood, or even read. All too often, they’re generic, impractical, or treated like software terms and conditions: scroll, tick, move on.

The system says a worker is trained. But are they confident? Capable? Willing to speak up when it matters?

I was attracted to SafePlus as an auditor because it finally asks the questions that matter. SafePlus doesn’t ask, do you have a policy? It asks, does it live in your people? It surfaces what workers and leaders really believe, feel and do when faced with risk.

It opens the door to questions like:

• Do people stop the job when they should?
• Do they know the difference between shortcuts and smart workarounds?
• Are they backed to “have a Hmmm?” when something doesn’t feel right?
• Is safety a lived value - or just a laminated one?

Crucially: when the pressure is on, and the options are limited, do they have the resources, permission and leadership support to make the safe call?

SafePlus gives insights into work as done rather than just ticks in the box. Sometimes uncomfortable, always useful. It’s a cultural snapshot - not of how things are supposed to work, but how they actually do.

I was reminded of the need for this kind of depth when reflecting on the Tony Gibson/Ports of Auckland prosecution. Despite having policies in place, a culture of disengagement and silence persisted. This wasn’t about missing paperwork - it was, as the judgment made clear, a failure of leadership and oversight. A reminder that a spreadsheet can’t measure trust. Or fear. Or compliance.

For me, SafePlus aligns with our preferred work - supporting organisations to build capability, not just compliance. It’s not about catching people out. It’s about spotlighting what’s working, where leaders can grow, and where systems can better support safe, effective work. The positive flow on effects to profit and productivity become natural consequences.

SafePlus has been designed in New Zealand as part of a partnership between experts, Government, workers and businesses. We pride ourselves on number 8 wire thinking. We’re tinkerers. Problem-solvers. DIYers. We’ve spent years trying to force a rule-bound model onto a culture that’s inherently adaptive. What if, instead of fighting that, we worked with it? What if we stopped treating behavioural-based safety as “soft,” and started recognising it as strategic?

Done well, it’s common sense with structure. It’s the difference between ticking off a box and knowing the job will be done safely—even when no one’s watching.

SafePlus can well be the tool that helps us get there. It shifts the conversation from “are we compliant?” to “are we capable?”

I recommend considering SafePlus as an audit tool.