Collaborative Safety Solutions: Designing Programs That Fit Your Organisation
- Nichole Lewis
- Mar 29
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 16
I’m often asked, “Do you have a program that can fix our problem?” The short answer is: no. At Resilience Health and Safety, we don't have off-the-shelf programs that are ready to deploy, we co-create custom solutions that we build with the client, for the client, which are contextually relevant and culturally nuanced.
Built with Quality in Mind
Throughout our process, Resilience Health and Safety applies a continuous improvement methodology aligned with the principles of ISO 9001: Quality Management Systems. Our approach incorporates systematic planning, data-informed decision-making, stakeholder engagement, and risk-based thinking — all key elements of quality management. By starting with a diagnostic phase, co-designing with end users (employees, supervisors and contractors), piloting and refining based on real-time feedback, and establishing clear mechanisms for post-launch review, we follow a full Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle.
This ensures the solution is not only effective at launch but also sustainable, measurable, and capable of evolving with the organisation’s needs. Our commitment to co-design and data-informed practice demonstrates a robust quality process that meets contemporary expectations for excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Overview
Stage 1: The Research Phase
As a group of Science Practitioners, the team at Resilience Health and Safety like to start with a solid understanding of the current state of the organisation, and their hopes for what the solution can deliver. We focus on the people, system, culture and results. To do so we followed the following methodology;
We conduct a desktop review of existing training content and programs against the best available evidence. Depending on the size and scale of the operation, we might select a focus area. In the case of our steel manufacturing case study (linked below), we narrowed the content down to 'Safety Leadership Training and Programs'.
We analyse the existing material with the Kirkpatrick Model, a widely used framework for evaluating the effectiveness of training programs. It consists of four levels:
Reaction – Measures how participants responded to past training (e.g., satisfaction, engagement).
Learning – Assesses the increase in knowledge or skills as a result of the training.
Behaviour – Evaluates whether participants applied what they learned on the job.
Results – Examines the overall impact of the training on organisational goals (e.g., productivity, quality, safety outcomes).
To understand reactions and learning, we seek to interview a cross section of the organisation to gather rich narrative stories regarding the current safety culture, and assess organisational and leadership maturity. We gather diverse perspectives from all corners of the business using a scientific sampling method called Stratified Random Sampling, whereby the population is divided into strata (subgroups, e.g., age, gender, workgroup, location), and a random sample is taken from each group. This ensures representation across key characteristics.
To review results, we look at key outcome metrics and performance data collected by the organisation, ensuring to collect data from both leading and lagging indicators. We prefer to use measures that already exist, to reduce survey fatigue, cost and inefficiencies. We can then articulate the current and desired future states and what success looks like.
At Resilience Health and Safety, we don’t offer off the shelf training programs — and that’s exactly why we get results. Only when we understand your unique context — your people, your culture, your data — can we create a solution that actually sticks. During the next stage we build and test ideas with you.
Stage 2: Co-design
Co-design is a collaborative design approach that actively involves stakeholders — including end users, clients, and subject matter experts — in the design process to ensure the outcome is relevant, usable, and effective. Rather than designing for people, co-design means designing with them.
Our co-design method aims to increase the effectiveness and sustainability of the future health and safety program, based on best practice safety training design principles. As shown by the figure below, safety training transfer (the generalisability and maintenance of learned skills) is optimised through consideration of pre-training, design, and delivery factors. Ultimately, the aim of safety training should be to engage workers in their learning experience.
At Resilience Health and Safety, our co-design process for safety training begins by forming a diverse reference group made up of key stakeholders from across the organisation — including frontline workers, safety professionals, HR, and leaders — to ensure the training is relevant, credible, and widely supported. Together, we clarify the purpose, scope, and learning objectives of the program, grounded in data and insights gathered during the diagnostic phase. The group then collaborates to develop content — such as activities, case studies, and facilitator tools — grounded in adult learning principles and the organisation’s own language. From here, we move to testing by launching a pilot program, allowing us to refine the final product that gets rolled out.
Stage 3: Pilot and Refine
We pilot the program with a cross-section of leaders, using rapid feedback cycles to test the training on a small scale and make real-time adjustments. By gathering data, responding quickly, and refining our approach as we go, we reduce risk, optimise resources, and role model adaptability and responsiveness — setting the tone for a learning culture from the outset.
Stage 4: Launch
Once the program receives approval to launch, we move to preparing for launch. During this stage, we:
Ensure a seamless rollout – We coordinate dates, align on venue requirements and location and participant enrolment, minimising administrative burden on our client.
Equip facilitators for success – Our team provides in-depth preparation, ensuring facilitators are confident, well-versed in the program and provide regular client updates so they are ready to deliver an engaging and contextualised experience.
Maximise participant engagement through communication – We work with our clients to implement a tailored communication strategy, we set up pre-session materials, and establish feedback loops and outcome measures to drive participation and impact.
Stage 5: Post-Launch
Post-launch, the reference group remains engaged to review outcomes and support continuous improvement.
If your organisation is ready to move beyond generic training and invest in a solution that’s grounded in science, built with your people, and designed for real-world impact — let’s talk. At Resilience Health and Safety, we specialise in creating tailored, science informed programs that are practical, culturally relevant, and proven to deliver results. Book a free 1:1 consultation with our team today and discover how a truly collaborative, data-driven approach can transform your safety leadership and culture from the inside out.
Case Study
How does a global steel manufacturer shift from a compliance-driven safety model to a proactive, learning-focused approach? This case study explores the organisation’s transformative journey from traditional Behavioural-Based Safety (BBS) to an award-winning Safety-II leadership program and an example of our approach in action. By embedding Human and Organisational Performance (HOP) principles, they achieved lasting improvements in leadership confidence, psychological safety, and operational resilience. Discover the key drivers behind this shift, the challenges overcome, and the strategies that reshaped their safety culture - setting a new benchmark for the future of workplace safety.
