Driving Behavioural Change with KiwiRail

The Science of Behavioural Change

Implementing safety measures is one thing; ensuring lasting behavioural change is another. SonaSafe’s approach aligns with key principles of behavioural science to create sustainable improvements in safety culture.

• Immediate Feedback: Real-time alerts provide instant feedback to both operators and ground personnel, reinforcing safe behaviours at the moment they matter most.
• Data-Driven Insights: Continuous monitoring and reporting help identify patterns, allowing safety managers to provide targeted interventions where necessary.
• Trend Analysis & Reporting: Interactive engagement tools help workers actively participate in improving their safety awareness and reducing incidents, fostering accountability and positive reinforcement at Site Level, Regional and Companywide Reporting Levels.

SonaSafe presents event data and trend analysis aligning to the Dupont Bradley Curve principles on our Management Reporting Dashboard. By plotting the number of incidents against their severity (Warnings and Stops), the Bradley Curve provides a clear picture of an organization’s safety performance over time. This information is plotted on a geospacially aware map which can then be used to identify areas where improvement is needed by location, machine and driver and worker.

It was created by Berlin Bradley, a DuPont employee, in 1995, indicating the relationship between accidents in the workplace and how the company’s safety culture affects the occurrence of safety incidents.

The Bradley Curve aims to plot the relationship between an organisation’s culture and the accidents. The core concept behind the Curve is that workplace accidents, in general, are caused due to human behaviour.

By integrating these behavioural science principles, SonaSafe not only reduces immediate risk but also cultivates long-term behavioural shifts, where safety becomes second nature to workers.

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‍How Our Solution Drives Behavioural Change

SonaSafe’s innovative approach to safety goes beyond traditional warning systems by embedding itself into the daily operations of industrial workplaces. KiwiRail chose SonaSafe because of its ability to deliver tangible, lasting change through:

• Proactive Hazard Mitigation: Unlike passive safety measures, SonaSafe actively prevents incidents by alerting both the machine operator and ground personnel when they enter a danger zone.
• Customizable Alert Sensitivity: The system can be tailored to different operational environments, ensuring that alerts are neither too frequent nor too lax, leading to effective adherence without desensitization.
• Comprehensive System Utilization Monitoring: Ensuring safety solutions are being used effectively is critical. SonaSafe provides tools that help supervisors track usage and compliance, guaranteeing continuous engagement.
• Scalability and Integration: Sonasafe seamlessly integrates with existing operational workflows, allowing for easy adoption and minimal disruption to productivity.

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‍Compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSAW 2015)

As a responsible employer, KiwiRail operates under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015 (HSAW 2015), which mandates that businesses ensure the safety of their workers by identifying and mitigating risks. SonaSafe has played a crucial role in helping KiwiRail meet its obligations by:

• Providing a proactive safety solution that minimizes the risk of worker injury.
• Enabling real-time incident tracking and reporting to ensure continuous improvement.
• Embedding a safety-first mindset within the workforce, ensuring compliance through cultural transformation rather than mere enforcement.
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Conclusion

KiwiRail’s adoption of SonaSafe has resulted in a significant transformation in workplace safety. By combining cutting-edge technology with the science of behavioural change, Sonasafe has not only reduced safety breaches but also fostered a culture of proactive awareness and accountability. With continued implementation and engagement, KiwiRail is setting a new benchmark for industrial safety in New Zealand, proving that the right combination of technology and behavioural insights can lead to safer, more efficient workplaces.