At Dura Vermeer, everything revolves around safety, from the design to the management phase. To ensure this, they have been working with SafetyFirst since 2017, available via Dura Vermeer’s own SAVE app. Naomi Erol, safety coordinator at the Infra division, explains how the organization has made significant strides in digitalization, information-driven work and involvement on the work floor in recent years. “Safety is really our number one priority and we actively manage it every day. Thanks to SafetyFirst, we can now substantiate this much better and make targeted improvements.”
“This results in a complete development process in which we can also have input,”
From wish to customization
“We have been working with SafetyFirst since 2017, but in the past year we have implemented quite a few changes within the SAVE app,” says Naomi. “The SAVE app was set up once and remained unchanged for years, until last year. The app has increased significantly in use in recent years and our wishes have changed, and that requires a different picture.” Together with SafetyFirst, we opted for our own server environment. This meant: faster implementation of adjustments, more customization and input into functionalities. “We want to use a professional approach to implementing our wishes in the app. Our wishes are developed, then tested and after acceptance it is put into production. This results in a complete development process in which we can also have input,” says Naomi.
“We have so many projects, from large to small, and the moment you know what is going on, you can act faster and turn the knobs faster.”
Learning from data
Trends in reports and incidents become visible through our own Power BI dashboard. “We use the data from the app to focus on safety. The app mainly helps us gain insight into what is happening on the projects. We have so many projects, from large to small, and the moment you know what is going on, you can act faster and turn the knobs faster. Imagine that during inspections on a specific project, it often turns out that the construction site layout is not in order. Without a good dashboard, it is difficult to respond adequately. If an event is not reported, we cannot act on it either. This problem can occur in several places and can indicate the need for a process change. By collecting and analyzing all this information, we learn a great deal and can implement targeted improvements.”
“We can really show that there are trends, without having to tinker with an Excel sheet.”
Clear reports
“We can also visualize the data very well and include it in our reports,” Naomi explains. “We have automated everything ourselves, which means that we can show in our reports that, for example, the workplace layout has been so many percent better as a result of certain measures. In this way, we can really show that there are trends, without having to tinker with an Excel sheet.”
“We also reward those who report safe situations with, for example, a safety cake or a present.”
Reporting willingness increased
The SAVE app has now become a household name within Dura Vermeer. Many more reports are being made, both positive and negative, says Naomi: “There is a real upward trend. Reports about unsafe situations, that is the top category, but also safe reports, because it is also encouraged to report things that are going well and safely. We also reward those who report safe situations with, for example, a safety cake or a present. Both our own people and partners with whom we work and who report in the SAVE app.”
Steering on top risks
Dura Vermeer uses six top safety risks (risk of collision, structural safety, electrocution, hazardous substances, hoisting and transporting and falling from height). Based on our top risks, the reporting form in the app has been adjusted to actually be able to report on these. Naomi: “We are now working with SafetyFirst on an improved functionality for the inspection form, so that we can make it interactive. We want to highlight the top risks better in the interactive inspection form, so that they are visible at every level of the work process, without having to register them twice.”
“We have a better view of what is happening. That means we can act faster, learn better and ultimately work more safely. And that is what it is all about.”
Practical tip: start small
Naomi has a tip for organizations that are yet to start using the SafetyFirst app. “When you start setting up the app, think carefully about what information you want to get out of it. Start reasoning backwards from that point. Start small, scale up, and avoid an overly complex reporting structure. Less is more.” Naomi is clear about the result of the collaboration for Dura Vermeer: “We have a better view of what is happening. That means we can act faster, learn better and ultimately work more safely. And that is what it is all about. We want everyone to come home safe and sound, every day.”
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