Safety isn’t about safety, it’s about work, and the systems that shape it, and the local conditions that influence how it’s done. Our evidence-based methodology helps companies, large and small, to refocus and achieve practical, meaningful outcomes.
The Forge Works blueprint for improving the safety of work – from position to ambition.
It's not easy, but we’re here to help.
Safety management is complex and there are no silver bullets for sustainable improvement. This assessment helps identify practical opportunities to move your organisation toward resilience.
We’ve supported 70+ organisations across industries, including mining, oil and gas, construction, energy and utilities, defence, transport and logistics. We tailor the approach to your context to maximise the impact and build buy-in. If you’d like to know more, reach out.
Create clarity and set direction with the Blueprint.
1.
Describe, in plain language, your organisation’s management approach to work and safety.
2.
Unpack the strengths and limitations of each management approach across key operational factors.
3.
Create a pathway to evolve your approach and build a more resilient model for the safety of work.
The Model
In the blueprint, we outline a framework for understanding your organisation, and how the safety of work is built through operations. This framework is called the Forge Works Map®.
The Map is grounded in safety science and institutional work literature, building on and extending other industry models. It looks at the organisational capacities that create the safety of work, the factors within those capacities, and the approach an organisation takes across those factors.
Guide
Set direction, priorities and a shared understanding of work and safety.
Enable
Provide the resources, capability, systems and processes that support safe work.
Execute
Build understanding of context, reliable work practices and real-time risk.
Compliant
A systematic management approach.
Leading
A cultural management approach.
Resilient
An integrated management approach.
Our Solution: Assess & Identify
1. Understand Context
Understand current performance by engaging operational and functional leaders, and reviewing relevant systems, documents and records.
2. Engage Leaders
Engage executives to understand vision, objectives and strategic priorities.
3. Engage Workers
Engage frontline operations through interviews, focus groups and surveys to identify strengths, constraints and improvement opportunities.
4. Assess the 'Position'
Apply the Forge Works Map® to assess organisational capacities and identify the dominant management approach across each factor.
5. Identify 'Opportunities'
Identify opportunities to grow organisational capacities and build resilient operations — the roadmap from ‘position’ to the ‘ambition’.
6. Guide the 'Ambition'
Calibrate the roadmap with senior managers and prioritise opportunities in the context of organisational values, vision and executive priorities.
7. Enrol Safety Leaders
Enrol safety managers as champions in developing and delivering the strategy, including co-design of the strategy map and programs of work.
8. Design Strategy Map
Design a strategy map using the primary strategic objective, stakeholder perspectives, business processes and enabling assets.
9. Develop Work Programs
Co-design programs of work to achieve the strategic objectives and seek formal executive approval.
Make a start and take our survey.
To support your organisation, Forge Works offers the Safety of Work Assessment — a diagnostic that clarifies how your organisation manages work and risk, pinpoints improvement opportunities, and shapes practical objectives and a focused program of work. It can be as simple as an online survey, or as in-depth as an on-site operational deep dive.
Blueprint for Impact
The Forge Works blueprint gives your team the context, model and methodology to run a self-assessment, and it’s freely available for download here.
Client Success Stories
Application of the Forge Works Map has provided fresh direction and possibilities for our globally diverse operations. The focus on business processes has engaged the entire organisation, resulting in a deeper exploration of work and new avenues to achieve and sustain safe outcomes. The result is a strategy that is regionally relevant and impactful to our operations, which will deliver not just safety, but operational excellence and sustainability.
Dylan Audeyev
Vice President – Safety Health Environment & Quality
Tronox
We partnered with Forge Works to establish a clear picture of the current climate across Transport to inform the development of a program of works that will successfully improve the safety of work and deliver on Transport’s health and safety strategic objectives. Coupled with a strong evidence based methodology, Forge Works brought sounds operational experience in the identification of targeted improvement opportunities arising from the safety of work assessment.
Amanda Gleeson
Executive Director – Health & Safety
Transport for NSW
We partnered with Forge Works to undertake a safety culture assessment to identify opportunities to shape culture and understand how work is executed. Forge Works offers a bespoke approach drawing on contemporary safety science which has afforded specific insights that traditional safety models do not offer. We gained in-depth understanding of localised issues and the insights informed our strategy. I am extremely grateful to Forge Works for providing a valuable service.
Kym Bancroft
Head of Safety, Environment & Wellbeing, AsPac
Serco Asia Pacific
The Forge Works map has played a big part in the transformation of our business. It highlighted the initial areas of focus that would make a true reduction in frontline risk. Through the addition of the survey tool, it’s enabled all employees to give direct feedback and to help guide our strategy towards being a more resilient organisation. It has also highlighted that we are on the right track in improving organisational learning and the safety of work. The team at Forge Works have been a sensational support throughout the process.
Josh Bryant
General Manager – People, Risk & Sustainability
Mitchell Services
We decided to go with the Forge Works Map as it aligned with contemporary theories of safety and where we are moving towards as a business. The whole survey process from pitch, engagement, planning, conduct and results was so easy and seamless compared with other assessment tools I’ve used in the past. I’m looking forward to being able to compare our changes over the coming years and working with Forge Works to help gather more real feedback from our employees to help assess and improve our safety of work.
Melissa Pollock
General Manager Health & Safety
Abergeldie Complex Infrastructure
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Consulting
We take the time to understand the constraints and realities of your organisation, then co-design improvements that reduce operational risk and strengthen the safety of work.
Hiviz
For dispersed safety teams, inboxes and spreadsheets stop working pretty quickly. Hiviz is purpose-built to help safety teams communicate, learn and improve — without the noise.
Safety Futures
We partner with complex and innovative organisations to build safer, more capable workplaces. Based in Australia and working globally — from the boardroom to the frontline.
