Australia
N.Z
U.K
Safety shouldn’t feel like a labyrinth of rules, processes, and forms. It should be something that inspires confidence and brings people together. That’s the simple but powerful idea at the heart of the New Zealand Automobile Association’s (AA) safety approach.
At the OHS Leaders Summit, Peter Hayes, Head of Health, Safety, and Environment at the AA, delivered a presentation that felt less like a lecture and more like a conversation. Titled Safety Made Easier, it showcased how the AA is rethinking workplace safety by stripping away complexity and putting people back in the driver’s seat.
Breaking Down Barriers to Better Safety
Peter opened with a question that stayed with the audience:
What does it mean to make safety easier?
For the AA, it means removing barriers that make safety feel burdensome or disconnected. Bureaucratic policies? Trim them. Overly complex processes? Redesign them. The goal is simple: make safety intuitive, accessible, and deeply human.
When safety is approachable, people engage with it, trust it, and most importantly, live it.
The Challenges of Changing the Status Quo
Every organization has its hurdles, and the AA is no exception. Peter laid these challenges bare:
- Gaining buy-in from leadership and teams.
- Communicating safety in a way that resonates.
- Overcoming resistance to change.
The AA met these challenges with determination, guided by a clear focus on listening, learning, and collaborating with their people. This wasn’t a top-down mandate; it was a team effort, where every voice mattered.
→ Want to learn more about Status Quo Bias? Read our article here
Reimagining Safety for Healthier Workplaces
The AA’s approach is underpinned by four guiding pillars:
- Stronger Leadership – Leaders don’t just set the tone; they set the example.
- Smarter Risk Management – Learning from the past to strengthen protections.
- Proactive Health Strategies – Addressing physical and mental health holistically.
- Empowering Resources – Giving teams the tools they need to succeed.
These pillars aren’t just words on a PowerPoint slide—they’re lived values, shaping decisions from the boardroom to the frontline.
Technology that Puts People First
Peter’s presentation highlighted a crucial enabler: technology. At the AA, digital tools are simplifying safety processes, turning once-complicated systems into user-friendly platforms. From risk assessments to training programs, these tools are designed to serve the people using them—not the other way around.
At HSI Donesafe, we’re proud to work alongside the AA, providing the technology that helps them achieve their vision of a safer, healthier workplace.
It’s Always About The People
Peter closed his presentation with a poignant Māori proverb: He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata.
What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.
This sentiment is at the heart of everything the AA does—and everything we aim to support at HSI Donesafe. Safety isn’t about policies or metrics; it’s about protecting and empowering the people who drive an organization forward.
What Does Safety Look Like for Your Organization?
The AA’s story is a powerful reminder that safety doesn’t have to be hard. It can be simpler. It can be smarter. Most importantly, it can be human.
The best part? It’s all accessible to you, too. Get in touch to see how HSI Donesafe can support your safety initiatives.
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If you’re ready to take your safety culture to the next level and truly see the impact it can have, why not start the conversation? Get in touch with us to explore how HSI Donesafe can help you build a safer, healthier, and more resilient environment for your team.
Whether it’s refining your approach or exploring how the right tools can make all the difference, we’re here to help you every step of the way. Let’s make safety more than a box to tick.