Laurens de Brouwer, Integrated Safety Manager at Hollandse Delta Water Board, explains: “As a water board, we deal with various areas of responsibility: management, purification, enforcement. The biggest challenge was centralising data and creating a clear overview. There was room for improvement in the number of reports submitted and how they were followed up. We’ve now made significant progress on that front.”
Previously, a different system was used to register safety reports, but after thorough evaluation, the organisation chose to implement SafetyFirst. The use of the SafetyFirst application has led to more efficient follow-up and better insight into trends.
In addition, reports related to different domains – such as occupational safety, cybersecurity, and the Resilience of Critical Entities Act – were spread across various channels, which made an integrated approach impossible.
This required a significant change to the app: the SafetyFirst app essentially handles reporting based on projects. This had to be based on managers, as they are responsible for employee safety and should therefore be the first to know. After this adjustment, Arcadis launched with a pilot team and only a few modules to keep the process as accessible as possible. This was a success, and since then the use of the Track to Zero app, as the SafetyFirst app is called internally, has been rolled out to all departments of Arcadis Netherlands.
“SafetyFirst was not yet a familiar name within the Hollandse Delta Water Board, which meant extra effort was needed to ensure everything ran smoothly. Fortunately, everyone was convinced of the benefits SafetyFirst would bring.”
The water board chose the SafetyFirst app to register and follow up on safety reports more efficiently. Several modules are now in use within the app, including reporting, inspections, working alone, work instruction cards, and news. This makes SafetyFirst a versatile tool that supports the safe execution of tasks across the organisation.
The decision to implement SafetyFirst wasn’t an obvious one, Laurens notes: “SafetyFirst was not yet a familiar name within the Hollandse Delta Water Board, which meant extra effort was needed to ensure everything ran smoothly. But in the end, everyone was convinced of the benefits SafetyFirst would bring.”
“I didn’t believe the app would be usable without instruction for someone unfamiliar with it, so I handed it to my department head without any explanation as a test. To my surprise, he was able to use it effortlessly.”
A common concern among organisations is that implementing a new system requires a lot of time and resources. However, at the Hollandse Delta Water Board, the process went relatively smoothly. The kick-off took place on 19 February, the first report was submitted in the test environment on 6 March, and the app went live on 21 April. It became fully operational in the real working environment on 8 May.
Laurens explains: “Most of the time went into thorough research and negotiations to ensure we selected the most efficient system for our needs. Actually rolling out the app was a fairly straightforward process. At one point, someone in the project group asked whether there was a user manual. I didn’t believe the app would be usable without explanation, so I handed it to my department head as a test—with no instructions. To my surprise, he was able to use it effortlessly.”
“Since implementing the SafetyFirst app, the number of registered reports has increased by approximately 40%.”
Since the implementation of the SafetyFirst app, the number of registered reports has increased by approximately 40%. This indicates an improved reporting culture and greater engagement with safety. “The threshold for submitting a report has been lowered—reports can now be made faster and more easily. Employees can submit a report in just 30 seconds from their phone,” says Laurens.
“Is it a coincidence that we achieved step 3 of the Safety Culture Ladder in the same year we introduced SafetyFirst? Maybe. But it definitely helped raise awareness and increase engagement.”
The improved structure and visibility around safety reports contributed to achieving Step 3 of the Safety Culture Ladder in 2024. This certification level reflects a mature safety culture within the organization.
The SCL was never a goal in itself, but rather a means to improve safety. The application played a key role in helping create a safer Hollandse Delta Water Board (WSHD). That same year, WSHD was officially certified at Step 3 of the SCL.
“Is it a coincidence that we reached Step 3 the same year we introduced SafetyFirst? Maybe. But it certainly helped raise awareness and boost engagement,” says Laurens.
“This system truly helps us take safety to the next level.”
So, it’s safe to say that thanks to the SafetyFirst app, the Hollandse Delta Water Board now has a more efficient and structured way to register and follow up on safety reports. Reports are processed faster, incidents are analysed more effectively, and the overall safety culture has been further strengthened.
Would the water board recommend SafetyFirst to other organizations? “Absolutely. The biggest advantages are the simplicity, the integration with existing processes, and the improved follow-up of reports. This system truly helps us take safety to the next level. On top of that, SafetyFirst continuously develops new features, so there’s always room to keep learning.”
Dura Vermeer
Movares
Arcadis
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