“So what does good actually look like?”

It's a question I’ve been asked more than once over the years, usually by someone in the thick of it – a leader juggling compliance demands, operational challenges and safety risks. Or by people who are trying their best in a system that often works against them. It’s a fair question and one I will try to answer here... after seven blogs laying down the groundwork - from culture and compliance, to enablement, data and design - it’s time to pull the threads together and talk about what good really looks like in practice.

Let’s start here: Safety that actually works starts with belief.

I was fortunate to spend a large part of my career with DuPont – a company rightly recognised for connecting safety performance with business performance. What made it work wasn’t just the system. It was the values and beliefs behind it.

At its heart was a simple idea: “All injuries and illnesses can be prevented.”

Not will be – can be. It wasn’t perfection. It was possibility. That mindset created the belief that if we stay focused, learn constantly and stay true to our values, we can always get better.

And better mattered. Because safety was never framed as a checkbox. It was about people. The system wasn’t something you worked around – it was something that helped you do the work safely and well.

What Good Looks Like: From the Ground Up.

In the best systems I’ve seen – the ones that people genuinely want to use – a few things always stand out:

Leadership is genuinely by example.

Your actions must follow your words. Full stop. When leaders model the standard – not just enforce it – it creates alignment, trust, and clarity.

Take something simple: mobile phone use in cars. The rule applied to everyone, including leaders. And they followed it. That kind of consistency builds culture more than any policy or campaign ever could.

People feel supported, not policed.

When a system works for you – not against you – it feels human. It gives you clarity, tools, and a shared understanding of what good looks like. It doesn’t leave you guessing and it certainly doesn’t force you to take shortcuts.

The odd one out is the unsafe one.

This is one of the most powerful signs a system has been embedded well. Working safely becomes the norm – not something to apologise for. People support one another. They notice, they check, they care. And those who cut corners start to stand out — not the ones who follow the process.

It’s not about ticking boxes. It’s about doing work that flows.

At the end of the day, most people come to work to do a good job. They want to feel productive, contribute, and go home safe. But when the environment is disjointed or unclear, that becomes harder.

A system that works well removes ambiguity. It makes expectations clear. It connects communication. It doesn't try to control people — it helps them stay focused and do the job right.

What makes a system people actually want to use?

We talk a lot about “adoption.” But it's simpler that that... People use systems that are useful. That help them do their job. That make life easier – not harder.

If your safety system works for the people who use it, you'll build commitment. And commitment leads to consistency. That’s how culture shifts... if your system makes it harder to do the job, it won't get used and the cycle continues: disengagement, workarounds, frustration.

Accountability ≠ Blame.

Good systems create accountability – but not through punishment. Real accountability looks like this:

• You’re trusted to do your job.
• You step up when it matters.
• You accept your responsibilities.
• You don’t blame others, you take ownership.

It’s only when people are empowered to make decisions and supported to ask for help that accountability becomes a strength – not a source of fear.

What changes when it works?

• Conversations become clearer.
• Safety isn’t a “department” it’s part of the way work happens.
• People lean in and solve problems instead of avoiding them.
• “Working safely” is just how things are done, not an extra step.

And most importantly: Work gets done right. People go home safe. Teams perform better. We acieve the outcome we’re all aiming for.

Next Up: How to Build It.

In Part 2 of this blog, we’ll dig into the mechanics – data, system design, leadership signals, and what maturity looks like in real life. I’ll share what helps people follow through, what gets in the way, and where to start if you want to move your system – and your culture – toward what good looks like.

Until then, take a moment to reflect: Is your system something people want to use? Or something they have to work around?

Because that answer tells you more than any audit score ever could.

Cheers,

Paul